The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-06-19
The Deering Murtler---A Surgical
Lecture Over the Dead Body of

| EbrfIh9f va ..t .a.fi i'It'
' From the Phlla North American June Ioi
| An autopsy of the body of the executed
murderer Prohst was made In the clinic
room of Jefferson Medical College on Sat
urday afternoon, in the presence of ns
many persons as the apartment would con
tain, all of whom were present by invita-
| tiOn, and most of whom were members of
| the medical profession. D
| Tie occasion was the subject of a lecture
| by Professor Pancoast, son to the veteran
Professor, now unfortunately suffering
badly from inflammation of the eyes, and
not able to be present. The lecture and
the operation lasted for two hours, and was
to the medical students and physicians as
lsembled an occasion of special interest.
The body, dark and discolored ut the ex-
tremities, was placed upon revolving
table In the center of the amphitheater.
The professors occupied the nearest seats.
and up to the highest bench every inch of
room was filled. The result of the exami-
nation showed that, aside from its igno-
miny, the manner OF Probst's death bro
duced but one single pang He died not
from congestion, from asphyxia, or from
the fracture of the yertebrH of the neck /;
he died from an immense shock, that shat
tered in an instant the entire nervous svs-
TEN. There WAS u livid mark around Che
neck made by the rope. Where the knot
had been there was no discoloTation what
ever, and this showed that the constric-
ton was only around u portion of the neck.
There was no laceration of the srtuct-
ures or the tissues discernible when the
neck was opened. The jugular was dis
tended with blood. The weight ofthe man
was one hundred and seventy-six pounds,
and the surgeons expected TINT a fall of
his body three feet and half would have
sundered every part IN this locality. Not
even the delicate veins were injured.
The cavity Of the chest being examined
showed muscular development TO high
degree, ana TIE presence Of strata Of fat.
Death was not caused by want of air, for
theflungs were fully distended, and even
perfectly healthy in appearance; and the
right side OF the, hcarts usually congested
under such circumstances of death, was
found in its natural condition. The diges-
tion was perfect. Though the prisoner had
breakfasted upon bread and butter. with
two broiled eggs, the whole was found to
have been absorbed, and the stomach abso-
mtely empty.
The brain was healthy. but Of less than
average sizo. Its. weight was thirty-six
ounces; that of Green, the Maiden muir
.derer, was four clInces less. Looking over
the whole ground the young Professor
pointed ont the Inevitable conclusion that
Probst died from the effects of the nervous
shock rtsliltingfrom the fall, and from the
compression of the nerves and arteries.
The demonstration took occasion 10 say
that he considered the size OF the brain as
having no bearing upon the question of
intelligence or its opposite.
ID In the course of the lecture, DIR. PAN
coast narrated some interesting anecdotes.
lie said that 1t was important 10 have these
examinations, In order to advance the
cause of science.
The county will DE at no cost for tile In
terment of this murderer. His skeleton
will be mounted and wired, aud will DE
preserved forever In the anatomical muse
nm of Jefferson College.