Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-11-11
Remarkable Electrical Feat.
From ths Pail Nal ea.etta !

e from tue ran Mall Gazette
A Florence newspaper, LsItalie.
extracts from the "Anneles de Ia Ned
iecine EIDE Ia Chiurgie Esranqerep the
following extraordiniry history
The Italian paper, for reasons easily
to be gathered, does not give i'm.
plicit credence to this statement, nor
lend it the editorial sanction:
On the 18th OF April, 1868, In the
prison of Villa Rica (province of
Minas Geraes. in Brazil, two men
named Ayeiro and Carines were ex.
ecuted st the same time. In Brazil
executions take place with closed
doors, in the interior of the prison.
Dr. Lorenzo Y Carmo, OF Rio Janeiro,
well known By savants for his re-
markable works on electricity ap-
piled to physiology, his surgical
skill, and his success in autoplastic
operations, obtained permission to
profit by this event in order to exper
iment on the power OF electricity, and
Illustrate its analogy with some of
the phenomena of life.
The numerous experiments hither-
to attempted have been made on the
head and trunk separately. DIR.
Lorenzo Y Carmo's design was, if
possible, to unite the head to the
neck after decapitation. The heads
of the two criminals fell within a
few minutes of each other into the
same basket; first that of Carines,
then that of Ayeiro. Immediately
after this second execution a COM
preston was effected by pupil of
DR.. Lorenzo on the carotid arteries of
one of the heads SO as to stop the
hemorrhage The body was then
placed on bed already prepared,
and Dr. Lorenzo stuck the head as
exactly as possible on the section
and kept it in that position. The
cells of a powerful electric pile were
applied to the base of the neck and
on the breast. Under this influence,
as in former experiments, the respi-
ratory movements were at once per-
ceptible. As the blood, which pen
etrated in abundance through the
surface of the scar, threatened to
stop the passage of air, DR., Lorenzo
had recourse to tracheotomy. Res
piration then ensued regularly. The
head was fastened to the body by
stitches and by Especial apparatus.
The physiologist wished to ascertain
for how long time this appearance
of life could thus be artificialiy main
tanned. His establishment was great
when he saw that at the end of two
hours not only did respiration still
continue under the influence Of the
electric current, but that circulation
had even resumed q certain regular
ity. The pulse beat fesbly, but SEN
sibly. The experiment was con;in-
ued without intermission. At the
end of sixty two hours it was evident
to the establishment of every one,
that a process of cicatrizatiGn had
commenced on the lips of the sec
ton. A little later signs of life man
itested themselves spontaneously in |
the head and limbs, till then deprived |
OF motion.
At this moment the director of the |
prison arriving for the first time in
the experiment room observed that
by singular mistake due to the haste
of the operation the head of Carines
had been taken for that of Aveiro,
aud had been applied to the body of !
the latter. The experiment was con
tinued Notwithstanding. Three days
later the respiratory movements re-
produced themselves and electricity
was suppressed. DR.. Lorenzo Y
Carmo, and his assistants, were stu
pefied, frightened at result so un-
and at the power of an
agent which, in their hands, had re-
stored life to q body whose right to
exist the law had forfeited.
The learned surgeon who had only
had in view a simple physiological
experiment employed all his skill to
continue this work, which science,
aided against all expectation by ma
ture, had SO aingularly commenced.
He assisted the process of cicatriza-
ton, which progressed under the
most favorable conditions. BY means
of an Gsophagian probe, liquid nour-
ishment was introduced into the
stomach. At the end of about three
months the cicatrization was COM
plete, and motion, though still diff
cult, became more and more extend
ed. At length, at the end of seven
months and half, Aveiro Carines
was able to rise and walk, feeling only
a slight stiffness in the neck and
in the limbs.