The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-07-12

The Deerfng Murder--A Surgf.
cal Lecture Over the Dead
Body of PrObst.
From the Phil. North american. June 10
An autopsy of the executed murderer
Probst was made in the clinic room of
Jefferson Medical College on Saturday
afternoon, in the presence of as many
persons as the apartment would contain.
all OF whom were present by invitation,
and most of whom were members of the
medical profession.
| The occasion was the subject of lee.
ture by Prof. Pancoast, son Of the yete.
ran Professor, now unfortunately suffer.
ing badly from inflammation of the ewes.
and not able to be present. The lee
ture and the operation lasted for two
hours, and was to the medical students
and physicians assembled an occasion Of
special interest. 3
The body, dark and discolored at the
extremlties, was placed upon revolving
table IN the centre of the amphitheatre.
The professors occupied the nearest
seats, and up to the highest bench eyery
inch of room was filed. The result of
the examination showed that, aside from
.
lgnominy, the manner of Probst's death
produced but one single pang. He
died not from congestion, from asphixie,
or from the fracture of the vertebrae of
the neck; he died from an immense
shock, that shattered in an instant the
entire nervous system. There was a
llvid mark around the neck made by
the rope. Where the knot had been
there was no discoloration whatever, and
this showed that the construction was /,
only around portion of the neck
There was no liberation of the structures
or the tissues discernible when the neck
was opened. The jugular was disten-.
ded with blood. The weight ofshe man.
was l76 pounds, and the surgeons ex.
pected that fall of his body three feet
and d half would have sundered every
part in this locality. Not even the del
icate veins were injured.
The cavity of the chest being exam
ined, showed muscular development to
high degree, and the presence of stra-
ia Of fat. Death was not caused by
want of air, for the lungs were fully dis
tended, and even perfectly healthy in
appearance; and the right side of the
heart, usually congested under these.
circumstances of death, was found in it's
natural condition. The digestion was
perfect. Though the prisoner had
breakfasted upon bread and butter, with
two boiled eggs, the whole were found
to have been absorbed, and the stomach,
absolutely empty
The brain was healthy, but of less
than average size. Its weight was
thirty six ounces; that of Green, the
Maiden murderer, was four ounces less.
Looking over the whole ground, the
young Professor pointed out the inevi--
table conclusion that Probst died from
the nervous shock resulting from the
fall, and from the compression of the
nerves and arteries. The demonstrator
took occasion to say that he considered
the size of the brain as having no bear
ing upon the question of intelligence or J
its opposite.
In the course Of the lecture DR.: Pan.
coast narrated some interesting, anec-.
dotes. He said that it was importantto
have these examinations, in order to
advance the cause of science.
The country will be at no cost for In
terment of this murderer. His skeleton
will be mounted and wired, and will, be
preserved foreverin the anatomical mus
cum of Jefferson College.
$ JAMES STEVENS, the Head Centre.
or Chief Organizer of the Irish RepubI !
lie, who strongly disapproved of the
late Fenian demonstration against Cam
ada, also denounces the attempt now
being made to "sell out" the Irish to
the Radical party. Here is his vigorous
language in relation to the matters g
| say, and mark the import of NV
words, that all Irishmen, be they what
they may, who are throwing obstacles
IN the direct way to our country's liber- ],
alton, are traitors, and are this hour alb
horred, despised, execrated by the men
in Ireland, and they dare not for their
lives place foot on the soil over which 5
the green flag should now in triumph
be waving. The men who now propose
to sell the Irish vote of this country to
pOlitical demaoouuas aro tro;+nra -