Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-12-16
A very Strange Story.

a FlOIeHce HeWePaPeft II AeoiAe
extracts from "the Annals de Ia
Medicine ct de Ia Chirurgie Etran-
gere," the following extraordinary
history. The Italian paper, for
reasons easily to be gathered, does
not give implicit credence to this
statement, nor lend it the editori-
al sanction :
"On the 18th of April, 1858, in
the prison of ViIIarica. (proSince
of Minas-Geraes, in Brazil, two
men, named Averio and Carines,
were executed at the same time.
In Brazil executions take place
with closed doors, in the inferior
Of the prison. DIR. Lorenzo y Car
mo, of Rio Janerio, well known
by savants for his remarkable
works on electricity applied to
physiology, bis surgical skill, and
his success in autoplastic opera
lions, obtained permission to-
profit by this event in order to
experiment on the power of elec-
tricity, and its analogy with some
of the phenomena of life. The
numerous experiments hitherto
attempted have been made on the
head and trunk separately. DR..
Lorenzo y Carmo's design was, il
possible, to unite the head to the
neck after decapitation. The
heads of the two criminals fell
within a few moments of each 9TH
er into the same basket; first that
of Carines, then that of Aveiro.
Immediately after this second ex~
ecution compression was effec-
ted by a pupil OF Or. Lorenzo on
the carotid arteries Of one of the
heads SO as stop the hemorrhage.
The body was then placed on a
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 n
powerful electric pile were applied
to the base of the neck and on
the breast. Under this influence,
as in former experiments, the res
piratory movements were at once
perceptible. AS the blood, pene-
trated in abundance through the
scar, threatened to stop the pass
age of air, DR.. Lorenzo had re-
course to tracheotomy. Respira-
ton then ensued regularly. The
head was fastened to the body by
stitches and by special apparat-
US.
"The Psychologist wished to as
certain for how long a time this.
appearance of life could thus be-.
artifcially maintained. His as
tOnishment was great when he
saw that at the end of two hours.
not only did respiration still con-
tinue under the influence of the.
electric current, but that circula--
ton had even resumed a certain
regularity. The pulse beat feeb-
ly but sensibly. The experiment
was continued without intermis-
sion. At the end of sixty-two
hours it was evident to the aston
iShment of every one that a pro-
cess of cicatrisation had commen--
ced on the lips of the section
A little later signs of life manifes-
ted themselves spontaneously in
the head and limbs till then de-
prived of motion. At this mo-
ment, 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 Carnes had been taken for that
Of Averio, and had been applied to
the body Of the latter. The ex-
pertinent was continued notwith-
standing. Three days later tho
respiratory movements reproduced
themselves and electricity was
suppressed. DIR. Lorenzo y Carmo
and his assistant were Supplied,
frightened at the result so unex-
pected, and at the power of an a
gent which in their hands, restored
life to body whose right to exist
the law had forfeited.
"The learned surgeon, who had
only had iD view a simple physo-
logical experiment, employed alL
his skill to continue his work,
which science, aided against all
by nature, had so sin
gularly commenced. He assiste,l
the process of cicatrisation, which
progressed under the most favor
able conditions. By means Of
an esOphagian probe liquid nour-
lshment was introduced into the
stomach. At the end of about
three months the cicatrisation was
complete, and motion, though
still difficult, became more and
more extended. At length, at the
end of seven months and half,
Averio Carines was able to rise