Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-12-18
A Rsrange Story.

Ga the 18th Of April, 1868, in the
prisou Of Villarica, Province Of Mi
Sas Geraes, in Brazil, two men nam.
cd Averio aud Carines were executed
Q, the same timo. In Brazil, exc
sutions take place with closed doors,
iu the interior Of the priSon. DR..
Lorenzo y Carmo, Of Rio Janeiro,
we'll known by servants for his re.
narksble works on electricity ap'
piled to physiology, his surgical
skill, and his success in antoplastic
operations, obtained permission to
profit by this event, in order to ex.
pertinent on the power Of elcctrici,
~, and TO illustrate its analogy with
some of tho phenomena Of life. The
numerous experiments hitherto at
tempted have been made Oh tho
head and trunk separately. DR.. Lo-
reuxo y Carmos design WAC, ifpossi-
bic, to unite the head after decapi-
tstion.
The heads of tho two criminals
ssll. within q few minutes Of each
other, into tho same baskot-first
that of Csrines, then that Of Avciro.
Immediately after this second exc
cation \ compression was effected
By a pupil Of DR., Lorenzo on tho
carotid artery of one Of the heads,
20 as 10 stop tho bcmorrhage. The
body was then placed on bod al
ready prepared, and DR.. Lorenzo
stuck the head rs exactly as posi-
Bile on the section, and kept it in
shat position. The cells of a power
ful electric pile were applied 10 the
base of the neck and on the breast.
Under this influence, as in former
experiments, the respiratory move
ments were ut once perceptible. As
tho blood which penetrated in abun-
dance through tho surface of the
scar threatened TO stop the passage
Of tho air, DR.. Lorenzo had recourse
" trach eotomy. Respiration then
snsued regularly. The head was
fastened to the body By stitches and
by a special apparatus. The physi-
.loeist wished to ascertain for how
long time this appearance of life
.ould thus be artiticially maintained.
His establishment was great whom
he saw at the end of two hours not
did respiration still continue under
tho influence Of tho electric current,
Int that circulation had even re-
sumed a cetain regularity. The
uolse beat feebly but sensibly. Tho
experiment was continued without
iotermission. At tho end OFF, hours
it was evident, to the astonisliment
Of every emo that process Of cica-
irritation had commenced on the
l;ps of the section. A little later
sicns Of life manifested themselves
spontaneously in the head and
limbs, till then deprived Of motion.
A. this moment the director of the
prison, arriving for the first time in
The experiment room, observed that
BY q singular mistake duo to tho
haste of the operation, the head OF
Carines had been taken for that of
Aveiro, and had been applied to the
body of the latter. The experiment
uac continued Notwithstanding
Three days later the respiratory
movements reproduced themselves,
and electricity was suppressed. DIR.
Lorenzo Y Carmo and his assistants
were stupefed, frightened at a re-
surt 90 unexpected, and ut the power
ofAn agent which, in their hands,
had restored life to body whose
right 10 exist the law had forfeited.
The learned surgeon, who bad
only had in view a simple physiol-
ogical experiment, employed all his
xiii 20 continue this work, which
science. aided, against all expecta-
,ion by nature, bad so singularly
commenced. He assisted the pro
ccss of cicatrization, which progress
ed under the most favorable condi-
lions. By means Of an esophagian
probe. LIQUID nourishment was in
,rodpced into the stomach. At the
and of about three months the cica-
irritation was complete, and notion
,honeh still difficult, became more
ana more extended. At length. Of
The end Of seven months and hall,
Iv.iro-Carines wss able TO rise and
walk, feeling only a slight stiffness
in the neck, AMI fsebieness IN The
E-ha