Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-23
From the Brighton (Eng) Herald, of March Sd.
Life Restored by GalVaniSm.

NdINauISIi was TcSOTtcu W dS d HIcdIIS vi
restoring the unfortunate Scott, the driver,
and though unsuccessful in that particular
lnstance-the vital spark having fled--its
application IN cases Of suspended animation
particularly from drowning, possesses strong
claims to the attention Of medical men,
The following are series of very interest,"
ing experiments made by gentleman at
Brent, near Ashburton, named Halse, to
test the power of Galvanism in cases of sus-
pended animation from drowning.
ION Thursday last one of my spaniels
whclpcd, having litter of thirteen. six of
which took for experiments. l drowned
three of them in cold water and kept them
immersed for fifteen minutes, at which time
| took them from the bucket, and placed
them in front of good fire. No motion
could be perceived IN either Of them. |
then put the front legs of one of them in a
jar containing warm solution of salt and
water and its hind legs in a similar jar, in
each of which was inserted one pole of the
Galvanic battcry-the whole were then pla-
ced near the fire.
The position of the dog being now favor
able for operating on, without the necessity
of making any missions IN the flesh, pas
sed very strong shock through its body it
moved its hind legs. gave it another
shock, which caused its tail also to move.
now passed twenty shocks in quick success
sion through its body ; It moved ercry limb,
its mouth opened; and | was inclined to be-
lievc that the dog had actually come to life
but the moment ceased passing the shocks
the dog was as motionless as it was previous to
my commencement. Again l confined the
shocks, and ! noticed that there was more
motion IN the limbs. Considering that, in
proportion to the return of sensibilty,-
these shocks would be too powerful for it,
decreased the intensity Of them, and passed
many hundreds in rapid succession. con.
tinued this for about five minutes, the mo-
ton of the limbs increasing as the shocks in
creased in number. now ceased the dog
still moved; IT WAS RESTORED TO LIFE.
placed it on warm flannel in front Of the
as it was previous TO being drowned; i
crawled on the flannel and made the noise
peculiar to young dogs.
now examined the other two dogs which
were drowned and taken from the water a
the same time this one was. They were
both dead "a plain proof that it was entire
ly owing to the galvanic fluid that life wa
restored. The other three dogs l drowned
in warm water, and kept them immersed 70
forty minutes, at which time all motion hat
ceased. Two of them laid in front of tn,
fire, and the remaining one placed IN thu
jars, as in the preceding experiment. nov
| ,,accnI cIncE nf ,unnt int ,u
the body, but no motion was perccptible.
therefore increased the intensity of then
considerably, and gave the shocks in quicl
succession. Every limb moved, the bell,
protracted and again collapsed, and the hea'
was raised. At this period stopped pas
sing the shocks, in order to see if there wa
any motion in the dog, when not under thu
Galvanic infiuence--thcre was none.
again proceeded with the shocks, and havin
noticed that the limbs moved more rapid,
than before, considered it necessary to de
crease the intensity and increase the qnanti
ty of electric fluid, which did, so much "a
to be enabled to perceive slight tremor il
the dog. | continued in this manner 70
about five minutes, at which time removes
it from the Jars, and placed it upon the table
lT WAS ALIVE. In "a quarter of an hoar
appeared to be perfectly recovered. TIL
other two dogs (Which were not allowed +
get cold during the whole of the experiment
were examined no motion whatever cou
be perceived. tried the effect of galvan
ism on one of these. was successful. |
one hour after this operated on the othe
dog also, but il was in vain. There was n
vigor remaining in the vital powers life ha
fled"