The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-10-29
IN INTERESTING AUTOPSY.
The Celebrated Case Of DR.. Groux,
About Whose aearS-Beats Learned
Universities Disputed.
tNe,o Yoric World, 18M.1

tNew Yorlc World, 1871
An autopsy was nude yesterday
of the body of DR.. Eugene Alexan :
| der Groux, who died in Wil}i.ms>
burg on Tuesday. DR.. Groux was
we'll known to the profession, not as
member of it merely, but as tue
only person known to be living hay
ing the curious malformation called
congenital assure Of tho sternmm of
breast bone. His case was cousid-
cred SO interesting by scientific men
that large number of physicians
assembled to witness the post-aaor~
tenn examination, which was Con-
Quoted by Professor John G. Dalton,
the distinguished physiologist of
this city.
The mere fact that Dr.. Groux had
SO singular u conformation of his
breast bone was not the most inter-
estlng part of his case. The absence
OF any bony structure over the right
side of his heart rendered the OBJ
servation of some of the workings
OF that Important organ very easy,
but, strangest of all, the man pos
sessed the power of entirely sup
pressir g the action of the heart at
will: There are similar cases in the
books, but only very few.
DIR. Groux came to this country
about thirteen years ago, and for "
long time wns the wonder Of physi-
ologists, anutomists and the medical
profession generally. He was born
ID Germany, but was of French ex-
traction. 1t WAS while exnibitiny =
himself at the various universities uf
Europe that he determined to find
out more about his own body by
studying medicine, and he was sub
sequeatly graduated from the Medi-
cal School of Gottingen. He spent
weeks and even months at The time
under the personal observation of
distinguished scientists, and his
Case was particularly studied by
Vlrchov, the celebrated German
patholigist. Two distinct beats Of
his heart could always be felt and
ulstlnctiy seen, one ut the apex and
one at tho base. Of course the
"psx beat was well understood by
everybody, but volumes Of learned
papers have been written
concerning the cause of tue beat of
the base, some contending that it
WAS caused by the right auricle,
some holding that it was the work
of the ventricle, while third party
IN the controversy were inst as
sure that the beats we're produced
in the aorta. The work of about
tive minutes yesterday settled the
question for all time. Itwas proven
that the beat was produced by the
contraction of the right ventricle.
Prof. Dalton, who had DR. Gronx
under observation years ago, was
convinced that the subject had the
power SO to arrest the action of his
heart as to make it impossible to
feel any pulsations at the wrist, but
was OF opinion that instead of the
hearts action being indeed stopped
the flow of blood through the sub
clavlan arteries was arrested by the
pressure of the lungs upon them,
since whenever DR.. Groux tried the
experiment he first took q deep,
full inspiration and then held his
breath for many seconds. But in
latcr years it was ascertained, by the
aid of the stethescope, that the
action of the heart was for the mo-
ment entirely stopped, 80 that no
sound whatever could be heard.
The experiments was repeated great
number of times. AS soon rs the
observer signifed by a nod that the
heart was motionless Dr. Groux
would instantly e1hale his breath,
whereupon tho heart would resume
it's action.
1t is said that there was captain
in the British army many years ago
who possessed tho same power. 1t
is also said that he dropped dead
during one of his experiments, hav~
ing stopped bis heart too long.
Another case is reported of man
who WAS convicted of murder in
Switzerland. As soon as the SEN
tence OF death had been passed,
seeing there was no possible hopo
for him, he quietly gathered his
cloak about him and fell dead. 1t
was afterwards found out from his
friends that during life he had pre-
tended that he could stop tho beat-
ing of his heart at will.
DR.. Groux, besides possessing this
remarkable power, had tho curious
laf0rmi Eu In Tho nnt o,,; ~, x,.,n af LIZ