The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-09
Il VERY STRANGE STORY.
To be Taken with Pinch of Salt.

A Florence newspaper, "L'ltalIc," extracts
from the "Annalcs dc la Medicine ct dola CHI
rurgie Etrangcrc," the following extraordinary
history. The Italian paper, for reasons easily to
be gathered, does not give iElplicit credence to
this statement, nor lend 1t the editorial sanctions
On the 18th OF April, 1sos, in the prison OF VII
ofsa @rS Of In Brazil two
at the same time. In Brazil executions take
place with closed doors, in the interior OF the
well known by savants for his remarkable works
on electricity applied TO physiology, his surgical
S 5 eSen ofes
to experiment on the power OF electricity, and H.
lustrate lis analogy with some OF the phenomena
tempted have been made on the head and trunk
separately DR.. Lorenzo y Carmo's design was,
decaptatlon. The heads OF the two criminals fell
within few minutes OF each other Into the same
basket; frat that Of CarInes then that Of Avelro.
lmmetntely after this second execution COM
The carotid arteries OF one or the heads so as to
stuck the head as exactly aa possible on the sec
powerful electric pile were applied to the base of
the neck and on the breast Under this influence,
as In former experiments, the respiratory move.
which penetrated in abundance through the sur.
face Of the scar threstened to stop the passage OF
Respiration then cnsued regularly. rho head was
fastened to the body by stitches and by especial
apparatus.
The psychologist wished to ascertain for how
long q time this appearance OF life could thus be
artl1claly maintained. Ills astonIslment n as
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 clrcula.
tlon had even resumed q certain regularity. The
pulse beat feebly but senslbly The experiment
was continued without intermission. AZ the end
OF sixtytwo hours 1t was evident to the astonsll-
ment or every one that q process OF cicatrisation
mad commenced on tile lips OF the section. A lit.
tie later signs OF life manifested themselves spon.
taneonsly In the heads and limbs till then de-
prlved OF motion. At this moment tho director
OF the prison arriving for the first time In the cX-
pertinent room, observed that by q singular mis-
take duo to the haste OF the operation the head OF
Carlnes had been taken for that o! hvc.ro, and
had been applied to the body Of the latter. The
experiment was continued Notwithstanding.
Three days later the respiratory movements re-
produced themselves and electricity was sup
pressed. DR.. Lorenzo y Carmo and his assistants
were stupe1ed, frightened at result so unex-
pected, and at the power OF an agent which, in
their hands, had restored life to O body whose
right TO exist the law had forfeited.
The learned surgeon, who had only had in
ed e., An al MS skill to continue this work, which
sSieenSe, aided against all expectation by nature
naoc.. naa 80 sipgnlary commenced. He nsssted the
process OF cicatrisation, which progressed under
sae most favorable conditions. By means OF an
Gesopha8an probe, liquid nourlshment was In.
trouuced Into the stomach. At the end Of about