Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-28
The Experiments ON Gerald Eaton's
atluN- body.


The Philadelphia Unipersity Journal
of Medicine and Surgery gives the fol-
lowing official account of the experiments
on the body Of Gerald Eaton:
Gerald Eaton, who was executed in
this city on the 9th of April, for the
murder of Heenan, was hung at ten
minutes of one. The drop was four feet,
and the cord small one. He struggled
for about four minutes, when all signs OF
life disappeared. He was cut down
twenty five minutes past one, and placed
upon the operating table in the amphi-
theater Of the University, fifteen minutes
of two; fifty minutes elspsing from the
time he was executed. Arrangements
had previously been made for expert
menting upon the body, so that immedi-
ately after being placed upon the table
six ounces of whisky were injected in the
rectum, and one gallon of pure oxygen
gas forced into the lungs by means of
gutta-percha tube introduced into the
trachea. While the oxygen was being
passed into the lungs, a powerful current
Of galvanism s1ss applied, by placing the
| positive po,-sj4pon the upper .cerylcal
| vertebl n, ana the negative over the center
of the diaphragm. This produced spasmo-
die excitement of the respiratory muscles,
and quite a rapid absorption of oxygen.
!, The ecchymosis about the face and va
rious portions of the body gradually
disappeared, so that in the course OF five
minutes all discoloration and distortion
| of the face were removed. The gas being
absorbed, the tonnage was withdrawn,
and artificial respiration maintained for
ten minutes, during which time two gal
Ions more of oxygen gas were forced
into the lungs. At this point the galvan'
! ism was reapplied, and it was now OBJ
! served that the eyes opened, the limbs
, moved, and respiration occurred. A
stethoscope was applied to the heart, and
pulsation was distinct; 80 marked were
the signs of life that many of his friends
became much excited, declaring he was
still living. These manifestations, how
ever, gradually subsided, and in ten
minutes all signs of vitality were ex
tinct. The experiments were again re-
newed, and the galvanism applied along
the spinal column, and nitrous. oxide iR
Jecteu lutO tnt luuse iuotoou VI VA 6on'
The trachea was opened and the
lungs completely inflated with the
nitrous oxide and with atmospheric
air. Artificial respiration was also
maintained for over an hour but no
signs of vitality we're present; the only
motion of the lungs and muscles produced
was that caused by the electric current,
xcepting the first / might here men,
ton that the pulsations of the heart, re-
spiration and movement Of the various
muscles in the first experiment occurred
after the galvanism was removed, and
continued several minutes, so that during
this attempt it was conceded that there
were marked indications of vitality. The
experiments we're conducted by Profess
sors Duffee, Gauntt and Paine, and con-
tipued one hour and twenty minutes, the
object of which was to determine the in
Ahence of oxygen gas, nitrous oxide and
electricity, together with Marshall Halls
method of respiration in resusciating
bodies perishing from asphyxia. In this
case an examination proved that the
cricoid and thyroid csrtiliges were com
pletely fractured by the fall, and exten.
sive effusion had occurred in the base OF
the brain. II was thought by Professor
Duffee that had not these accidents oc-
cured the body might have been resus-
citaied