, 1873-05-25

one hundred go into tile house, old woman, or:
I'll bust yc"
Aud she vent.
PAINLESS DEATH.
An interesting S.,gse~t,en By a scien-
tisf.
Dr. T. ". Ellsworth, of Hartford, an erai1ent
surgeon, has written d pnper on the modes Of
capital punishment, which ia giyen below "a pub
lishod in the New York Necs:
recent writer suggests the uae OF ch1oroforn
instead Of the rope He also states that the
gnilotine and the garrote are scientific, and in
advance Of hanging, an old but Convenient mode
I Of execution. The subject is worthy Of study
in scientific point Of view, for aa the world has
| advanced in its knowledge us to tile best Ways OF
preserving life, so it ought III the best way of
| taking it.
To understand the most easy mode Of dying,
| it is necessary to examine the process of death
physio1ogicaly, q thing I have not seen done
! when applied to executions. Among the methods
Of taking lie ia civilized communities, there il
little to choose; for, whichever il selected, how
ever diverse to the eye, the physical changes
! producing death the same, and none free
from serious objections. In ALL death is the re-
brain. This organ alone is the sent OF conscious
ness aud, unless thus supplied at once, loses it's
power Of perception in proportion to the de-
ficiency.
Il is itae1f almost totally insenaible; it: may
be cut, torn, or pressed on by the finger without
| pain: Consciousness may be lost by the press
ure, but is restored at once On it's removal.
| The duty Of tho brain is to take cognizance OF
! Impressions made on the nerves which terminate
in it, like telegraph wires in the Office. These
Impressions, when thus transmitted to the brain,
| are acted on by the mind, and we perceive pleas
| ure, pain, or specific sense, according to tue
I ef CIV *f,t
cited. In decapitation the head loses, almost
| Immediately, the blood requisite to invigorate
the brain, and faintpess ensues, followed by
death, Just as i blood VAS taken from any other
part OF the body.
But tho blow cannot descend 80 swiftly but
that the subject is fully OF the incising in-
strument and the pain in cutting through the
spinal uaarrow, though brief, must be like ter
rife injury Of every nerve in the body ut once,
since every portion is supplied By this nervous
cord, and tho impression made ON the brain ia
referred to every part where these neryes termi-
nato Pain is thus felt, even after the head lies
| in the basket. Thus there must be . universal
sensation perfectly impressed on the senBorium.
The vessels cannot empty themselves Of blood
| so rapidly hut that a moment OF two OF sensitive
life remains, for the brain feels as long as it has
| vitalized blood enough
T. Now let Us look at strangu1ation. The aim
| with every e1ecutionsr is to break the neck. T
! question much whether the subject is gamer
| thereby. Whether the neck be dislocated or not,
tha sane t;mc rwh;le frnct,,ra or iiisIocation
nrohahfr adIs s1,frerinr Look at the anatomy
| OF the neck. Blood is so necessary for the brain
off this vital finid thrnneh any two OF those hard
| " diminishes tha ouautity. owing to their free
| nnion 1v;th;n the aEn11 . -.
| Two Of these arteries, and the largest, run up
| tiralv nrnhihits connressinn nuf}er arv circnm-
| stances nnfess tha hone ia ahaoInteIv crnshed
whicl, in never tho case in hancinr. ~
| neck occnrs. tie brain is stiIi Tor several
| moments supplied with blood, capable Of sus-
taining life. This is proved by tic black. con-
gcsted, and swollen face. blood passing M and
enterine by the great yerkebral arteries.. hut
being unable to escape through the iueular
veins which ara e1ternaT and cofnnreased The
person, therefore, must in all cases be conscious
some moments after the drop falls.
How is it in dialocation Of Tie neck? This
takes n}ace. when it does occur (which ia not
nsnnNs at tha innctton Of the two upper bones
of the snine.. Viz: between tie atlas and the !
odontoides the tooth-like process Of the latter |
often pressing upon or into the medulla oblon- !
gata. the most vital point in the body, and (
everything below. But this does not necea-
sarily help the sufferer. The body, it is |
true. hangs limp and powerless or Infected |
only by apaa1nodic action from irritation Of the
upper end Of the cord, independent OF the mind; |
but tile brain is as yet intact it receives its !
supply Of blood, and for q moment or two lH fully !
aware OF what has occurred
The quietnees OF the body does not prove
death; it is simply paralysis the man cannot
move, but he can keenly feel. Death actually in
this case takes place from paralysis OF the great /
nerves Of respiration which move the chest and +
diaphragm 80 that the blood cannot be aerated- |
Thus, both in stranguiation simple and in stran-
fhe eame, In the latter We have paralysis Of tho
MUSCLES and obstruction OF the air-tube, but
this does not hasten death, since, II the man can
not breathe, owing to paralysis of.the nerves and
muscles Of respiration, closure Of the trachea is