The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-11-17
A Very Strange Story.

a Floronco newspaper, HHolic,
extracts from. the Annales dc la
Medectne ct de la Chirurgie Etran-
gere, tho following extraordinary
history. Tho Italian paper, for
reasons easily to be gathered,
docs not give implicit oredonco to
Tho statement, nor lond it tho od-
itorial execution o."
On tho 18th of April, 1868, in
the prison Of Villarica (Province
of Minas Geraes), in Brazil, two
men named Aveiro and Carines,
woro executed at tho samo timo.
In Brazil executions take place
with closed doors, IN tho interior
OF the prison. Dr. Loronzo y
Carmo, of Rio Janeiro, we'll known
ny savants for his remarkable
works on electricity applied to
physiology, his surgical skill, and
his success in autoplastic opora-
tlons, obtained permission to
profit by this ovont in order to
oxperimot on tho power of clec-
tricity, and TO illustrate it's anal.
ogy with somo 'of'the phonomcna
Of life. Tho humorous export
monts hitherto attempted have
been made on tho head and trunk
separately. DR.. Loronzo y Car
mos design was, if possible, to
unto tho head to tho neck after
decapitation. Tho heads Of tho
two criminals fell within few
minutes of ouch other, into tho
samo basllct-first that of Carl
mes, then that Of Aveiro. Immo-
diatcly after this second cxocu-
ton, Il compression was effected
by Il pupil Of DR.. Lorenzo on tho
tho carotid arterios Of ono Of tho
heads so rs to stop tho hcmor-
rhage. The body was then placed
on bed already prepared, and
DR.. Lorenzo stuck tho head as
exactly rs possible on tho section,
and kept it in that position. Tie
cells Of powerful electric pilo
woro applied to the base of tho
mock and on tho breast.
Undor this influence, as in for.
NOR experiments, the respiratory
movements wore at once perceD.
tib'c. AS the blood which ponc-
trated in abundance through the
surface Of tho scar threatened to
stop tho passage Of air, Dr.. Lor-
onzo had recourse TO tracheotomy.
Respiration then cnsucd regular
~. Tho head was f,,stened to
tho body by stitches and by q spo,
cial apparatus. The Psychologist
wished to ascertain for how long
a timo this appearance of life
could thus bo artifcially main.
tanned. His establishment was
great whom ho saw that at the
end Of two hours not only did
respiration still continue under
the influence Of tho electric cur
ront, but that circulation had
even resumed u certain regularity.
The pulse boat fcobly but sonsi-
bly,. Tho experiment was con-
tinned without intcrmission. At
tho end Of sixty-two houre it was
cvidcnt, to the astonishment of
every ono, that " process of cca-
trisation had commenced on the
lips Of tho section. a littlo later
signs Of life manifested thom-
selves spontaneously in tho head
and limbs, till then deprived Of
motion. 1..
At this moment the Director of
tho Prison arriving for tho first
timo in tho experiment room, OBJ
served that by q singular mistake
duo TO tho haste Of tho operation
the head Of Carincs had boon ta-
ken for that Of Avciro, md had
boon applied to the body of tho
lattor. The experiment was con-
tinuod Notwithstanding. Thrco
days later tho respiratory move
ments reproduced themselves and
electricity was suppressed. DR..
Lorenzo y Carmo and his assis-
tants wero stupcfied, frightened
at a result so unexpected, and ut
tho power of an agent which in
their heads, had restored life to
q body whose right to exist tho
law had forfeited.
The learned surgeon, who had
only had in view a simple physi-
illogical experiment., employed all
his skill to continue this work,
which scionco, aidod against ali
expectation by nature, had SO sin
gularly commenced. He assisted
thcprogrcss of cicatrisation, which
progressed under tho most favor.
ablo conditions. BY means Of an
@sophagian, probe liquid nourish-
ment was introduced into tho
stomach. At tho end Of about
three months tho oicatrication
was complete, and motion, though
still difficult, bocamo moro and
more extended. At length, Mt tho
ond Of sevon months and 4 half,
Aveiro-C -Carinos was ablo to rise
and walk, feeling only n slight
Stiffness in tho neck. md q fceETe.