Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-06-15
How Apparent Death is to be Dis.
cr1mlnated from Actual Death.
From the German Of Martin yr,oan.r..

II &~SNbAAs
From the German Of Martin Friedberr-
Cases are happening freouentlv
where apparent death is confonnded
with actual death, notwithstanding a
multitude OF symptoms, hitherto re-
garded as infalIible.
| In q lecture recently delivered bv
Professor Rosenthral, of Vienna he
announced that science had at last
| succeeded, by means of electricity. to
determine in every instance and be-
yond the shadow of doubt, whether
lie be positively or only apparently
extinct.
Every corpse, says Rosenihai, NAV
Immediately after death be easily ex.
cited by an electric current, which
viii not only produce the motions of
respiration, heaving and suosiding of
the chest, but also cause expressions
OF tho countenanoe, such as the fea-
lures OF smiling, pain, etc.
This intense electric Susceptibility
lasts about halt an hour, when is be-
gins to decrease, to cease entirely.
after the expiration of three hours
under ordinary circumstances, and
after TWO hours, where death was
caused by protraeted chronic disease.
In the oase of apparent iitelessness,
however, the electric current will at
any time produce the results afore>
mentioned, and thus furnish an iner.
rablc guido to distinguish definite
from seeming extinction of life.
Professor Rosenthal then goes on
TO cite case that came under his
own observation
A nervous, excitablo young woman
swooned away, after u violent out
break OF emotion, aud lay ifeless for
about thirty-six hours. Oftwo ply.
sicians summoned, ono pronounced
her to be dead, whereas the other re-
Trained from expressing decided
opinion. The application Of hot soal-
ing wax and other expedients COM
monty resorted TO in similar eyigens
cies, proved Intellectual, and prepara-
tlons for the funeral were accordingly
made. Professor r. was incidentally
apprised of the matter, and examined
the woman. Neither palpitation of
the heart nor action of the respirato-
rs organs were preceptIble. nothing
but an exceedingly faint pulsation
seemed 10 indicate that vitality was
not completely destroyed. Rosenthal
at once applied the electrical appara-
tus whereupon the body began to re-
act exquisiteIy. He now recon-
mended TO wrap tho body in warm
blankets, to admit plenty Of fresh air
TO the room, and 10 instil clear coffee
mixed with little brandy. On the
following day, forty-tour hours after
the catastrophe, the woman awoke,
and gradually re~obtained conscio us
ness, speech and motion. When
completely restored, she related that,
daring the first stage Of her stupor,
she Was entirely insensibie, bnt that
consciousness had returned by de-
grecs, and that she had seen and
heard every thing that took place
around her. Although aware of tho
preparations for her interment, she
was unable TO give sign or utter
sound. The condition was similar TO
that OF having the Nightmare, or tc
that brought about by strong dose
of narcotics.
Professor Rosenthal adds, that
since tho auditory organ dies last, il
is generally not advisable to converse
10 the hearing of person expiring,
or of one just expired, about matters
concerning his condition, as we might
thereby horribly embitter his last
last moments.
The electrical exploration NAV be
conducted By iaymen, the manipula-
ton being exceedingly simple. The
ends of the wires, connected vita tue
battery, should be pointed and pierce
the skin; hut care must be taken not
to como in contact with the voips.
The penetration is usually effected
in the cervical region, or in the foot
or hand.
Perceptible contractions of tho
muscles, after three hours from tho
time Iitelessness has occurred, affords
mistakeable evidence of the pres
enee of vital power