The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-03-28
LIFE WITHOUT A SOUL.


| remarkable case OF reeu5cltauOu hs nav
ing recently occurred in Paris:
Mons. de Docteur Buss d'Alemoert,
noted French physician and surgeon, has
long held that life might be prolonged in
definitely in some classes Of patients
such, for instances, as those who have
suffered no fatal LESSONS, but who are per
ishing from anamia or the degeneration
or non>production of proper blood cor
puscles. Until the 9th of last November
he found no one willing TO accept as true
his seemingly visionary theory. but hsv~
ing secured a suitable patient for experi>
mental purposes in the person Of NJ. Ma
than Isaacs, a near relative. by the way,
of Baron Rothschild, he Immediately
proceeded TO demonstrate tie truth of
his hitherto unsubstantisted assertion.
Mr.. Isaacs was dying Of an annmis dis
order, and having heard of DR.. dAlem-
bert's theory, he sent for him on the date
above mentioned, having discharged his
family physician, and placed himself
wholly under the care Of DR.. dA. Upon
his arrival, DR.. d'Alembert found his pa
tient at the point of death. and the more
strongly to demonstrate the tenability OF
his belief, be determined to allow Mr..
Isaacs to expire before trying his experi>
mcnts. No stimulsnts being exhibited,
Mr.. Isaace quietly breathed his last on
the morning of November IL, at 4:3O
o'clock.
The body was then removed TO the of
fee of DR. dAlembert, when the experi>
meuts were conducted as follows; Two
assistants then began with dry friction to
shampoon the entire surface Of the body
This being thoroughly done, the doctor
made an iscision reaching to the spine
AT IN. first vertebra, and buried there a
smooth copper plate attached to one wire
Of the electric battery. The incision was
neatly scwed up to hold the plate in
place, and the cicarrice covered with COL
lodion or other tincture Of gun>cotton.
Another copper plate, connecting with the
same pole Of the battery, was buried at
the base of the skull, aud still third, OF
zinc, connecting with the opposite pole
of the battery, was buried in similar
manner at the base o: the sternum. Ey-
erythiug being in readiness. an almost
imperceptible stream of electricity was
turned on aud so gradually increased that
il was fully an hour before any twitching
or the muscles couIu Ue urscUvereu. Al
the end of an hour, as above stated, q
slight tremor of the muscles became dis
cernable, and at the end of the second
, hour, very minute globules Of perspira-
ton could be seen with the magnifying
glass upon the glands OF the throat
sxille and groins At this point artifi-
cial perspiration was bugun and kept up
Toward the close Of the third hour the
flesh had moist feeling. the entire eur
face Of the body being covered with q
light preparation. From this time to
the end Of the fourth hour the patient
slowly recovered, at the end OF which
time he fell into sound sleep, tr, m
which he awoke refreshed, and began a
conversation. perfectly rational. The
battery was attached to Mr.. Isaacs, and
the stimulants continued, though at lon
ger intervals, and in larger quantities.
The most singular part Of the truly
strange story is the fact that. although
Mr.. Isaacs recovered his intellect with
the renewal of his life, yet his moral fac
= u!ties were entirely dormant. When hi:
child and wife were brought to him, hs
b evinced no emotion whatever. and while
his memory recalled every incident o.
his former life-and all of his acquaint-
ances say that his conversations and
ideas were more brilliant than ever be-
] fore-yet it was impossible to call Ut
any association that was aught save in
different to him. When informed OF hi,
mothers death (though he had been tb,
most devoted OF sons), he remarked
q "Well, che was old enough HEAVIER
knows"
n Though formerly very devout in hi
a observance of religion, he had become
blasphemous He would not tell tn,
;. tru,k-if possible to lie, aud seemed t.
take a most intense delight to steal anC
, secrete about his person any object, ever
Of the most trivial value. lie made fire
i. quent attempts to rob the doctor of hi
A watch while bending over him to admin
lister stimulants.
r The blasphemies and obscene conduc
and conversation of Mr.. Isaacs having
become too horrible, it was determined t
o discontinue the stimulus and disconnec
s the battery. This being done the fata
: signs Of hiccoughing began, and in thir
ty minutes the animal heat and all sign
d OF life had disappeared, and death ha'
resumed it's sway. Immediately on hi
, dissolution the eye sank. the skin shriv
v eled, hideous stencil pervaded the Who'll
r. apartment. and the corpse had all tn
appearance Of having been dead 70
1t weeks. Thus ended the most remarka
BILE experiment on record.
DR.. d'Alembert says that prior to thi
"a experiment he had made several o.
the bodies of cats and dogs, starved I
!. death for the purpose of experimenting