Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-04-29
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF RE
SUSCITATION.

II A man named John White has becn hung
! at Louisville, Ky. for the murder of Mcssrs
Gwatkin aud Glenn. II appears that the
execution was bunglrngly pcrformed-the
knot of the rope slipped up over his chin in
stead Of under lis car, aud his death, or op-
parent death, must have been excruclating.
lie was cut down after hanging about 25
minutes, aud his body given over to The doc
tors for the purpose of experiment. The
Louisville City Gazette gives the following
interesting account of the astonishing aud
extraordinary result Of the experiments by
which the unfortunate man was restored To
| life:
/ The poles OF powerful Galvanic pile,
| which had been prepared for the occnsion,
were Immediately applied to him, aud to the
unuilcrable JOY of alIprcsen! with the mos,
perfect success. On the first application of
The fluid 10 his body, which was yet warm
and trembing, II universal ircinor seemed 10
pass over his frame. and fancy, II fancy you
can, the surprise, the astonlshment of all.
when Of sudden lie arose upon his bench To
a sitting posture, and with great eagcrncss
and impotence raised his hand 10 his neck.
trying 10 grasp the scar in his fingers and
tear It from his throat. lie first snatchcd at
it with great rashncs., ns though the rope
was yet around his neck, and then continued
some moments picking at the seam with ll "
fingers, us though 1t was something that ad
hercd To his throat, giving him great unrasl
ness. But this symptom was soon forgotten,
for almost The next moment he rose upon his
feet, raised his arms level with his breast,
and opening his boodshot eyes, gave forth
from his mouth a most terrific scrcech, after
which his chest worked ns # IN respiration,
in very violent manner. Every one at this
minute was as mute as death, every breath
was for moment suspended, when DIR. ID.
exclaimed, "by heavens, he's alive" Too
great wds the excitement, too intense md
absorbing was the interest and woEder, en-
loved and felt by all, TO allow time or atten-
ton for a reply TO the remark. Every eye
was rlvettcd upon the agitatcd aud shaking
corpse. The operator continuedio Let upon
il full quanium of the galyanic fluid, till the
action upon the nerves becoming so powerful
that il made tremendous bound, leaping by
a sort Of an imperfect plunge. into corner
of the room. disengaging itself entirely from
the wires which communicated The gaIvanism.
\ Al Immediately drew around the body
For moment after its fall, it seemed per-
lccty moiioncss and dead. DR.. D. approach.
cd, and taking hold of hls arm, announced
that he felt slight, though single beat Of
the pulse. The galvanlc operator was just
+. going to arrange his machine 10 give him
4 another charge, when DR.. ID. again cxclaim-
ed, "hc is he is alive!-.h sighs! he brrnihcs'
f And, true enough, he did sigh he gave n
long gasp, at The Same time raising und
gently waving his right hand His signs
continued for couple of minutes, when they
ceased entirely. His whole frame seemed
| to be somewhat, nelratcd; his chest heavrd
\ his legs trrmbed, and he occasionally raised
II bis right arm. These effects were supposed
II 10 be caused by the powerful influence of the
/ galvanc ilnd upon the nerves. None oi
these movements were yet supposed aitrl.
/. butable to The action of life. II was consid-
4 cred that the annalng principle Of nature
had left his frame and would never be again
restored. Why not /: Are not people who
have been longer deprived of life than he
had been, ofieniiDes restored? Then why
may he not be fesuscisted? were questions
that seemed 10 cngagc The minds OF all. In
I the very height Of anxiety and suspense, Dr.
\ b. announced that no could ieol feeble pull
saiions. A piece Of broken looking glass
was immediately held before his nos'rils,
which was Instantly covered with cloud.
Il 'iIe brcsihes-he breaihasp was the unnni.
nous shout. All was The most intense
anxiety for some seconds, when the motion
OF his chest, as in the act of respiration. be-
came visible. "Ilis pulse SAID DIR. B. "docs
now certainly beat :" he Mt the same ~.
slant exclaimed, "he opens his eyes"
II And horrible, indeed. wore ihose eyes io
look upon lie rolled them wildly ~ ihor
sockets, occasionally closing them, and
giving most terrific scowls. W. about 6vc
minutes his breathing bccnnn tolernbly fro.
queni-probnby he would give ono breath
when a healthy man would give four lis
br, nthinq., however. rapidly Increased ~
frequency and strength. DR.. ID. began TO
spohk 10 him but he gave ~" indications that
hc heard = word He lookcd upon the scene
around brm with Be most drs'hly bd'For.
este, seemingly tlvo " n0'Ang. a PIN