Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-11-16
[From the Pail Mall Gazette.l
Resurrection of the Dead Life Re-
stored to a Decapitated Criminal.


A Florence newspaper, Il HaA;e, extracts
from the Anna1cs dc la Medecine ct de la
Chirwgie EtrGngere the following extraor-
dnary history. The italian paper, for reasons
easily to be gathered, does not give implicit
credence to this statement, nor lend it the
editorial sanction
On the 18th of April, 1868, in the prison
of Villarica, province of Minas- Geraes,) in
Brazil, two men, named AvOiro and Carines,
were executed at the same time. In Brazil,
executions take place with closed doors in tho
interior of the prison. DR.. Lorenzo Carmo,
of Rio Janeiro. we'll known by savants for his
remarkable works on electricity applied to
physiology, his surgical skill. and his success
in autopastic operations, obtained permission
to profit by this event in order to experiment
on the power Of electricity, and illustrate its
analogy to some of the phenomena of life
The numerous experiments hitherto attempted
have been made on the head and trunk sep
arately. DR.. Lorenzo Carmos design was
if possible, to unite the head to the neck after
decapitation. The heads of the two criminals
fell within few minutes of each other, into
the same basket; first that of Carines, then
that of Aveiro. Immediately after this second
execution a compression was effected by a
pupil of DIR. Lorenzo on the carotid arteries
of one of the heads so as to stop the hemor-
rhage The body was then placed on 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 power
full electric pile were applied to the base ofthe
neck and on the breast Under this influence,
as in former experiments. the respiratory
movements we're at once perceptibe. AS the
blood, which penetrated in abundance through
the surface of the scar. threatened to stop the
passage of air, DR.. Lorenzo had recourse to
tracheotomy. Respiration then ensued regu-
lary. The head was fastened to the body by
stitches. and by special apparatus. The
physiolooist wished to ascertain for how long
a time this appearance of life could thus be
artifcially maintained. His astonishment was
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
circulation had even resumed certain regu-
larity TIE pulse beat feebly, but sensibly
The experiment was continued without inter
mission At the end of sixty two hours it
was evident to the astonShment of every one
that n process of cicatrisation had commenced
on the lips of the section a little later signs
of life manifested themselves spontaneously
in the head and limbs till then deprived of
notion At this moment the director of the
prison arriving for the first time in the expert,
ment room observed that by singular mistake
due to the haste Of the operation the head Of
Carlncs had been taken for that of AveirO,
and had been applied to the body of the latter.
The experiment was continued notwithstand
ing Three days later the respiratory move
ments reproduced themselves and electricity
Vas suppressed. DR.. Lorenzo Y CarmO, and
his assistants we're stunefed, frightened at a
result so unexpected. and at the power Of an
agent which in their hands had restored life
to a body whose right to exist the law had
forfeited
The learned surgeon who had only had in
view simple physiological! experiment en-
ploycd all his skill to continue this work,
which science. aided against all expectation
by nature. had so siugularly commenced. He
assisted the process of cicatrisation, which
progressed under the most favorable condi-
tions. By means of an Gsophagian probe,
liquid nourishment was introduced into tho
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, Aveiro- Carines was able to
rise and walk, feeling only slight stiffness in
the neck and feebleness IN the limbs.