The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-06-17
RESUsCITATION AFTER HANGING,

] IA
An experiment was made on the body Of
the executed murderer. Gerald Eaton. hang
ed In Philadelphia on the 14th of April, to
test the possibility of resuscitaling a BODY
destroyed by asphyxia. Complete prepara-
tions had been made beforehand for the
trial, and Immediately after the body of the
murderer Was cut down, after hanging thirty
minutes. it was taken by the physicians,
carried to the Medical College, and placed
on a table in the amphitheaier. This was
the work of ten minutes. quantity of
pure oxygen gas was forced into the lungs,
and powerful gaivanic battery applied to
the medulla Oblongata and the pit Of the
stomach. At the same time the ton gus
was withdrawn from the mouth and the
body turned from side to side, the method Of
Marshall Hail. for artificial respiration II
four or five minutes marked change &C.
Cured in the countenance, the chest gradu-
ally expanded. the eyes opened. one arm was
drawn up, and, by means OF a stethusCoue
contractions and dlations Of the heart were
distinctly heard. So evident were the signs
of life, that his friends exulted over the fact
that he really lived. Another gallon of
oxygen was introduced into his lungs, and
the battery W, chaug ged that the current
passed the entire length Of the spine, and the
artificial respiration continued. For q few
moments the signs of life increased, but in
short time disappeared. Nitrous oxide
gas was injected into the trachea. made by
Prof DufIee, but all to no purpose, and.
at the expiration of an hour and twenty
hve minutes, the experiments ceased, and
the body was handed over to his friends.
There have been other attempts made to
restore executed criminals to life that we're
more successful. A Swiss convict was once
hung up thirteen times without fatal effect.
and he came out alive from the terrible or
deal. 1t was afterward discovered, on in
veotigation, that his windpipe was oss;fed.
aud this saved him from suffocation. The
case of Annie Greene, servant girl, who
was hanged in London in l6I5, is still more
remarkable. While hanging, her BODY was
pulled, and beaten with a soldiers musket
and after being cut down was trampled on.
In spite Of all this, when the body was
stretched on the table for dissection by the
anatomsts, it showed signs of life restora>
tives were instantly applied, and the iudi-
cations increased in fourteen hours after the
hanging she could speak, aud in few davs
was completely restored. The terrible suf-
fering she had gone through was considered
a sufficient punishment for her crime, and
she was pardoned. She lived many years
afterward, married, and bore three children.
She was often asked to narrate her sensa-
tions during the hanging, and the time Of
her apparent death; but on this subject she
could throw no light. She lost her con
sciousness, she declared, when the drop fell.
and remembered nothing till her revival
Another servant girl, hanged at Oxford in
1908. was cut down, apparently dead. after
being suspended several hours, aud allowed
to fall great distance, which of itself. was
enough TO Kill an unhanged person She
was resuscitated. however, by the apatom-
lists but the officers of the law insisted ON
doing their duty, and she was effectualIy
hanged the next day.
Margaret Dickson was hanged at Edin-
burg in 1924, and. after being cut down.
was placed in coffin, and that in a cart. to
be borne distance of six miles for burial.
During the journey, the coffin was broken
open oy some medical students, which let
the air in to the confined corpse; this to-
gether with the joltng of the cart resuscita-
ted the body before two miles Of the distance
had been accomplished. Instead of being
carried to the burial place, she was taken to
her home; her neighbors gathered round her
70 offer their services, and the parish minis
ter came to pray for her. The restoration
was complete, and she lived long after To
bear several children. and led an exemplary
life. A man named Smith, who was hung
at London, was repreved, but the repriege
did net reach the officer till he had been
hanging fifteen minutes. He was instantly
cut down and bled. He revived and recoy-
cred. William Duel!, who was hanged at
London, in l740, was revived by the physi-
clans who had been given his body for dis
section. The government spared his lie.
but transported him. In 1867 a man was
executed at Cork, and after being cut down
was removed to a dissecJing room, a hole
was cut In his wind pipe and restoratves
applled 10 tie body. He recovered at once,
and the record adds, had the hardihood to
attend the theatre that night. A case too
marvellous for belief, Were not the testimony
indisPutable. is that of Inetto de BaIsbam
who was executed in England, and kani
hanging on the gallows from Monday pornt
Ing till Thursday morning following. hDt |
who, Notwithstanding this fearful experi !
ence. was restored to life, pardoned, and
lived for several years afterward
When the hanging is skillfully done.
however, 60 as to dislocate the cervicaI yer
tebre. resuscitatiou is impossible, as the
severance of the spinal marrow caused by
the luxatiOn separates the brain from the
remainder of the nervous system almost as