The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-05-03

The following description efa galvanic ex-
pertinent with criminal whobhad been hanged
is from tho Port Folio. .ofan Excitemeh. Sce-
kerr
At length one of them got back again with
in his circle, and said, well, WELL let Us go to
work. We can think of other things after
Every one seemed to regard this as sort OF
relief They had got rid of an importunate
thought. and about their experiment they set
with zeal, and doubtless with skill. A great
deal took place which / did not understand,
and do not understand even now. They
turned the body over, and coolly carved away
with their knives at the back of the neck,
close to the base OF the skull. shuddered as
/ saw; for though the man was dead enough,
in all conscience. could not persuade myself
that he did not feel. Still and motionless he
lay. however. as they handled him so roughly
and there was something very horrible even IN
that stiffness. Tho dull, smoky glarc of the
lamps gave more hideous expression to the
features, as they turned him over aud over;
and the oppressive atn osphere, together with
the sensations Of dread and awe that felt,
seemed almost to take from me tho power of
respiration. Then they filed up the great
porcelain trough that have mentioned with
acids and water, adjusted it properly, let down
the metallic plates into the liquid, and drew
some wires from the battery to the dead body.
inserting the end Of one ofthem into the wound
they had made into the back of the neck. II
was and old and as / afterward found a cele-
brated anatomist, who held it in its place. with
n long pair of forceps, apparently tipped with
glass had got as near tho table as / could,
and | saw his hand shake a good deal. wond-
cred whether it was with age or agitation, and
quietly raisnd my eyes TO his face. 1t was
pale as that of the corpse; and glancing round,
saw all the rest, who had gathered closely a
bout, gazing with straining eyes, and faces O.
qually white, upon the form Of the dead man.
had hardly dropped my eyes TO that cold dead
countenance again. when sudden quivering
twich passed like flash of lightning over the
muscles Of the check and the old surgeons
hand shaoe tereiblv: but held the wir firmly
i'm its place. a little more acid he whispered
in tones hardly audible, and Mr.. White ran and
poured something out Of a vial into the trough.
Suddenly the protrudcd tongue was drawn back
into tho mouth, and every one retreated n step
from the table in awe and fesr except the old
mag who held the wire, and | could see him
shut his teeth hard, and knit his brows, as IL
struggling resolutcly against the feeling of
dread and awe within him. His eyes seemed
starting from his head: but a moment or two
after he said, almost with q gasp-"It is con-
ing
Of unexplained relations poured into the CORPSE
jaw moved the teeth chattcred; the eyelids Op-
ened. the eyes began 10 roll.
"My Godp cried some one.
For Heavens sake stop! excl lined andh
er.
wait n minute-Wait a minute. Let US
think exclaimed third.
I crept up close to tho corpse, and almost
touched il; but my heart seemed as if it had
nearly ceased to beat.
Every ono was awcstruck, and could see
that the old surgeon was so himself though
he said nothing. and continued to hold 10 the
wire-hardly conscious. believe Of what he
was doing; but looking more like stone stat
ute than Ipan.
In the mean while, the ghastly contorions
on the face of tho corpse. which the act of
strangplation had left, had gradually give, way
to motements and expression, convusive in
deed but much moro natural The eyes still
rolled; but there seemed q light in them. The
mucles quivered all over; but hardly more Than
those of man under strong emotion. The
corpse seemed to look at us: and tho agitation
of all around became intense. Suddenly the
knees were drawn up almost to the chin; the
arms raised wildly. One man darted towards
the door. and threw il open. The next instance
the coapsc raised itself suddenly, and sat up
on the table, and dropping the wire, the old
surgeon himself fell fainting on the floor Ev-
cry ono else rushed from the room, except my
self; and why did not follow. know not
MY feet seemed rooted to the floor, however, /
could not stir; could hardly breathe.
For an insiance-for merely an instance-the
dead man sat there like like living one:
then swayed heavily backward and forward,
and then fell, and rolled over upon the table.
The spell which held me thcro seemed dis
solved; regained the use Of my limbs. which
had seemeb paralyzed; and rushing out Of the
room as the others had done before me, hast
cned down the stairs.
Bad Effects Of Cold Bathing