Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-04-24
From HE Louisville city Ga4en..



g,,er,ls. was not in the mos, approved stylo for
4he mere piessuie 0f the opofo'i NJ. The ksot by
some rnarouvre instead Of being fixed by his ear,
Shcro /, would have facilitated the breaking of bis
tcch happened TO come in his face, hy Which means.
the choking was of The most imperfect Sort He
hung squirming and kicking long time, before he
surrendered and occasionally gave forth blasts from
Iii. mouth and nostrils.
After hanging about twenty-five minutes, he was
cut down and conveyed oway 10 be experimental
upon by Philosophers and Anatomiss. He was an
excellent subject for experimenting upon the ex-
.ccution such, that no disorganization had tar
ken place The face Of the corpse did not look
Sad as they generally do, and, in fact he was con-
as'le,ed not much different from man twenty mis-
clu,cs drowned.
The poles OF powerful Galvanic pile, which had
s,ccn prepared for the occasion, were Immediately
applied to him, and to the unuterabe JOY of all pre-
sont, with the most perfect success. On the frs,
application of the fluid 10 his body, which quite
warm and trembling, universal tremor seemed to
yass lis frame-and fancy, if fancy you can,
Ebe surprise the astonishment of ALL when of a
-sndlen he arose upon his bench to sitting pos
iure, and with great eagemess and impaenro raj.
acd his hands 10 his neck, trying to grasp the
in his fingers and tear it from his throat !-e FIRST
fnatched at il with great rashncss, as though the
,ope was ye. around his neck, and then continued
come moments picking at the scam with his fingers,
though it was something that adhered to his
throat, giving him great uneasncss. But this
symptom was soon forgotten, for almost the next
moment, he arose upon his feet raised his arms le-
vel with his breast, and opening his blood shot eyes,
gave forth from his mouth most terrific screoch,
ster which his chest worked if in respiration in
a very violent manner. Every one at this inmate
was as mute as death, every breath was for mo-
mCnt suspended, when DR.. d. exclaimed, "hy hca-
vens, he's alive ~ Too great was the excitement,
TOO intense and absorbing the interest and won
der enjoyed and felt by all, to allow time or atten-
lion for reply to the remark.
Every eye was rivited upon the agitacd and
shaking corpse The operator continued to let up
on it full quantum Of the galvanc fluid, ill the
action upon its nerves became so powerful that it
made Tremendous bound, leaping by sol, of i'm
teifec, plunge, into corner of the room, dsenS.-
sing itself entirely from the wires which communi-
Gated the galvanism.
Al Immediately drew around the body. For
moment after its fail, it seemed perfectly motioncss
and dead. Dr.. d. approached, and taking hold of
his arm, announced that he thought he fe, Sigh,
though single heat Of the pulse. The galvanic opc-
Tator Just going to arrange his machine 10 give
nm another charge, wnen Uf. ~ aguIn eAeiaIrns II,
-"ho is--he is alive he sighs! he breathes!' And
true enough, he did sigh, he gave long gasp at
abc same time raising and gently waving his right
hand. his sehs continued for a couple of minutes,
when they ceased entirely. His whole frame seem.
ed to be somcwha, agitated. Ills chest htavcd, his
legs tembled, and he occasionally raised his right
arm. These effects were supposed to be caused by
she powerful influence ofthe galvanic fluid upon the
nerves. None Of these movements were yet sup
posed attributable 10 the action of lile 1t WAS con-
sdercd that the animating principle Of nature had
left his frame, and could never be again restored
Why not Are not people who have been longer
deprived of life than he had been. often times res,o-
rcd Then Why may be no, be rcsuscitaied! were
H"'"''""" a. ~""rnnh 10 the minds of ali.
In the very height of anxiety and suspense, DR.. D.
announced that he could feel feeble pulsa,ions. A
piece Of broken looking glass Immediately held
before his nosrils, which was instantly covered with
a cloud. "Hc brea,hes! he hresihes." was lie
unanimous shout. All was the most intense nnri
ETY. for some seconds, when the motion Of his chest
in the act of respiration, became visible. "His
pulse" said Dr. d., does now certainly beat-!o"
he at the same instant exclaimed, "ho opens his
.eyes!"
And horrible, indeed were those eyes TO look up
on! He rolled them wildly in their sockets, occa-
sionally closing them, and giving most terrific
scowls. In about five minutes his breathing became
tolcrably frequent-probably ho would give one
blea,h when healthy would give four. His
breathngs, however, rapidly increased in frequency
and strength. DR.. ID. Iegan to speak 10 him. but he
gave no indications that he heard q word lie
looked upon the scene Ground him with the most
deaihlke Indifference, seemingly alive to nothing.
pin was tiled upon his foot. He moved his foot,
ihough not very suddenly, and resented the act with
horrible irown, but flown containing something
OF sadness His action soon began TO take on q
more energetic character. lie began again to feel
OF his neck and work his body, as though in the
seyerest agony. Young L., medical student Of
DIR. s., approached him, and taking hold Of his arm
aud shoulder, White rose upon h feet took two
steps being thus supported, and seated himself in All
arm char. On seating himself, he gave a slight
groan, his muscles seemed to relax, and he appeared
somewhat overcome with the exeItion he had made.