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

A Florence newspaper, "L'ltalie,' extracts
from the "Annales lie la Medicine ct de 10 CHI
rurgie Etrangere," the following extraordinary
history. The Italian paper, for reasons easily 70
be gathered, does not give iEplicit credcnce to
this statement nor lend it the editorial sanction:
On the 18th of April, 1858, in the prison OF VII
lorica province Of Minas-GerZes,) Ill Brazil, TWO
men, named Avciro and Carines, were executed
at the same time. In Brazil executions take
place with closed doors, in the interior OF thc
prison. DR.. Lorenzo Carmo, Of Rio Janciro,
well known by savants for his remarkable WORKS
on electricity applied TO physiology, his surgical
Skill and his success in autoplastc operations
obtained permission To profit by this event In order
to experiment on the power OF electricity, and IL
lustrate its analogy with some OF the phenomena
OF life. The numerous experiments nltherto at
tempted have been made on the head and trunk
separately. DIR. Lorenzo Carmo's design was,
II possible to unite the head to the neck after
dccapitaton. The heads OF the two criminals iell
within few minutes OF each other into the same
basket; first that OF Carnes, then that OF AVelr0
Immediately after this second execution COM
preston was effected by pupil Of DR.. Lorenzo on
the carotid arteries OF one OF the heads so as 10
stop the hemorrhage. The body was then placed
on bed already prepared ana DR.. Lorenzo
stuck the head as exactly as possible on the sec
tion and kept il in that position. The cells oil q
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
ments were at once perceptible. AS the blood,
which penetrated in abundance through the sur
face Of the scar threatened To stop the passage OF
air, DR.. Lorenzo had resource to tracheotomy.
Respiration then ensucd regularly. The head was
fastened to the body by stitches and by special
APPARATUS -.-... 49,.
long time this appearance Of life could thus be
artlcialIy 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 crcua
ton had even resumed certain regularity. The
pulse beat fecbly hut sensibly. The experiment
was continued without intermssion. At the end
OF siXty-two hours it was evident to the astonish
had commenced on the lips of the section. a lit
tie later signs Of life manifested themselves spOn-
taneously in the heads and limbs till then de-
priyed of motion. At this moment, the director
of the prison arriving for the first time In the cX
periment room, observed that by q singular mis-
take due to the haste Of the operation the head OF
Carincs had been taken for that of AveirO and
had been applied TO the body OF the latter. The
experiment was continued Notwithstanding.
Three tays later the respiratory movements re-
produced themselves and electricity was sup
dressed. DR.. Lorenzo Carmo and his assistants
were stupeflea, frightened at a result so uncX
pected and at the power OF an agent which, In
their hands, had restored life to body whose
right to exist the law had forfeited.
The learned surgeon, who had only had In
view simple physiological experiment, employ
science. aided against all expectation by nature
had so singularly commenced. He assisted the
process OF cicatrisation, which progressed under
the most favorable conditions BY means OF an
psophagian probe, liquid nourishmcnt was in
troduced into the stomach. At the end Of about