The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-04-10
KNOX MARTIN.
Report Of the Experiments Made by
Physicians Upon the Exc
cuted Criminal.
Reported by the Nashville Banner.

Reported by the Nashville Banner.
The experiments upon the execu
ted criminal on Friday last wer,
perhaps the most satisfactory evei
performed In this direction. Never
before. after a dislocation of ia,
neck, have there been such pro-
nounced manifestations of vitality
exhibited.
The criminal hung by the necS
seventeen minutes, and was pro
nounced dead by all the physicians
present ten minutes before being
cut down. Immediately upon the
section of the ropes the dislocat,u,
OF the neck vas reduced by DIR.
Summers, and the body hurried,
conveyed to a shed near by. the
time occupied in conveyance being
only SIX minutes. The batter, :
were then Immediately set To work
by DIR. Steger, who passed the posi-
tive electrode through the medulla
oblongaLa just at the point of it,
narrowing into the spinal cor'i
Fhe negative electrode was placed
upon the ensitorm cartilage and
an electric current of fifty cells
of Groves battery passed through
the body. Artificial respIra tion
was vigorously kept up all the
time b, Drs. McMurray, Harwell,
and East, some of them blow
ing their breath at every expiration
In the mouth Of the subject. II
was thought best not to use a bel
lows tor fear OF rupturing the ali
ellis. The bronchial tubes were
tiiled with mucous secretions, which
greatly impeded the respiration
Upon the first impulse OF the elec
trio current the whole muscular sys-
tenn responded actively. Tncr,
was a convulsive movement OF Tn
limbs, and vigorous contorJion CO.
all the muscles of expression in the
face. The eyes opened aud stared
vacantly around, while the WHOM,
cOuntenance assumed an expression
OF utter anguish Soon the pulse
returned (about twenty beats To
the minute, and the heart flutLered
violently for a few seconds. after
which il beat regularly for several
minutes after breathing ceased.
Respiration was spontaneously in
duced in five minutes after the be
ginning of the operation, but ceased
before the heart had stopped beat
ing, which seemed to respond TO
the electric current, as there was
no rhythmicai action of the organ
after the removal OF the electrode
During the operation the thermom
eter was introduced into the mouth
and observed at intervals, the high
est registration being 994d Fahren
heit. The sounds emitted by the
subject were nothing more than
deep groans, and the breathing was
conclusive and gasping. Profuse
perspiration rapidly broke out upon
the body and ran down in great
drops upon the ground. The phe
nomena usually observed in such
cases of death by strangulation
we've all present, the discharge from
the bladder, genital organs and
bowels being profuse. For time
the experiments seemed to be
crowned with success, and serious
threats were mare by the ignorant
mob, who anxiously awaited the re-
suit from without. The raising OF
,he body in the coffin was TO the
eye perfect demonstra
ion of vitality, though the experi
physicians attached much
ess Importance TO this than TO the
,ther phenomena exhibited, IL being
only a response to bhe muscular
induced by the electric
current.
The pupils of the eyes were great
Y dilated, and the dIlatlon seemed
% increase toward the conclusion OF
he experiments. The radical pulse
we're distinct but not so strong "A
he carOtids, the beating OF hich
vas plainly visible. The dissection
# the body will determine what lie
ions Of the spinal cord were made,
md also the condition of the vari
'us organs of tue body.
Perhaps never before has there
,een Witnessed such positive dem
,nstration of vital functions, alter
he extinction of life, and the old
licLum of Bichat, that Lille is OF
in action" was well nigh,
" these experiments, conclusively
proven. And then all this was
lone under the most unfavorable
ircumstances-unde the pressure
# morbidly curious mob Of ignO
ant people, interested only ia the
Issue of the experiment
the restoration oil life. Had IA
Dom been convenient and fit d up
With the necessary appliances anu
apparatus, much greater RESULT
would have been reached. But,
ven as it was, the experiment
lands to-day unequalled by any
ct observed, aud offers the hope
hat science will eventually demon
tate the guestio Vezata Of the day
he physical basis OF life.