The New York herald., 1879-12-11
EXECUTIONS BY CHLOROFORM.

TO rfK EDITOR HERALp:-
In an interesting letter in your issue OF to-day
execution by electricity is ably presented. But is
pity that the writer. in the warmth OF his advo-
cacy for this agent should swing to the other ex-
treme OF bringing forward utterly inv.lid objections
against chioroform. Such course vitiates in COR
responding d>grce confidence in the facts adduced in
favor OF the me thod he himself advocates. Waving.
however. all criticism upon the writer views upon
electricity, will conhne myself to the chloroform
aspect OF the question.
THE METHOD OF APPLICATION. 4
will suppose, for instance that the method had
the pleasure OF suggesting in your issue or fNovem
Der &C. be pursued-that the criminal is bound to
proper chair aud has had adjusted over his head an
alright bag. close fitting by elastic at the neck
and containing sponge saturated with an
ample amount of chloroform. Then let
how your correspondents, objections
apply. First. he says. 1.-THE commerrst pro.
Duct (chloroform) sis seldom uniform In
quality" This is trivial objection. Executions
not very frequent to exhaust the sppply'of
pure chloroform to be found in every reputable drug
store in the land Surgeons who dare to chloro.
form in their practice have never found any trouble
in procuring it, Again. the writer says. 'Its effects
scarcely the same on any two persons" We
almost at a loss what to reply to- snch statement
this The criticism applies equally well to prussic
acid to strychnia and late bungling attempts in
this direction have taught the public. to hanging.
SPEED AND CERTAINTY DEATH.
Whatever other ''efects" the writer refers TO,
there is effect certain that life terminates.
and that is that chloroform applied as above do
scribed. will in every instance, first produce stupor
and then death-stupor within from fifteen seconds
to two minutes, and death within u few more min.
utes. The writer forgets the fearfully poisonous
character of chloroform. Death from the inhaln-
taneously. in spite of the utmost caution Of the
surgeons administering it. III many instances only
spiraton. In one case thirty drops killed.
in one minute; in another fifteen drops
abound in records Of death from chioroform. There
is drug in by tho physician and surgeon
which has killed 50 many people. Every skiful
practitioner knows how the verge of death the
chlororormized patient treads-how constant the
watchfulness required to lead him safely through
this "valley OF the shadow of death" Chloroform
vapor acts y depressant upon the human system
from the very outset-the life centres yield rapidly
and in succession to it's attack. But a little step
after stupor produced aud the heart action the
respiration ceases forever. We need not mention the
numerous instances of suicide by chloroform. But
leaving the recorded fatal effect of small DOSE as
well also that of the surgical dose mortality OF
about thirty persons yearly, out OF the question.
we maintain that death from the Intentionally large
dose and this respect no persons
differ.
THE DEATH STRUGGLE.
Again the writer urges that in chloroform narcosis
there is stage Of involuntary struggling which
overwhelming dose this could scarcely occur, and
should it do in place Of retarding each effort would
accelerate the effect the vapor by causing the sub.
ject to take deeper inspiration. Evidently such
objections to the use of chloroform as have cited
carry their own contradictions on their face.
PHYSICIANS NOT EXECUTIONERs
Much more worthy of consideration are the points
not brought forward, first that Characterization II
too humane . method OF killing criminal and sec
ond that other posons like prusslc acid quicker.
The first Of these points opens up broad field for
general argument. In regard to the second agree
with your correspondent, whose objections to the
OF chloroform have taken the liberty Of criti-
cisng. in thinking that the fatal objecton to II is
that t makes the physician the oxecutioner." This
is not to be thought or. But the physicians services
need not, US believe, in the Of chloroform
tend beyond their present limits in cases Of hang
ing Any Sheriff with common could soak up
pint OF chloroform with sponge and place IL
within bag corresponding to certain degree to
the present black cap. The physicians services
would not be required for this.
CHLORoFoRM VERSUS ELECTRICITY.
In conclusion. will thus put tho case to your
correspondent 1t is matter OF statistics compiled
from cases carefully. though often unwlingly, re-
ported in the three leading medical journals OF Eng
land that during the period of years-l871 to
1877 inclusive this period selected because It hap
pens to be at hand)-there have occurred average
OF sixteen deaths yearly from chlorotorm. and this
under skilled administration. Now. fur
know, no man has ever been killed by
discharge of electricity from battery
(though am open to correction upon this point.
1t is then, thus far conjecture that could bo
killed in this manner. And how and under what
circumstance Is the experiment OF killing man by
electricity to be tried? Who will be tho first sub
ject? What State will provide o criminal for
pertinent? What scientist will be the cxecutionerf
In short. Mr.. benjamin offers unveriAed
theory, while offer q demonstrated fact.
At this point leave the subject. with the simple
expression Of opinion that of all methods none
to me at the same time so certain, so unrevolting.
simple and humane the compulsory In
halation of choroform vapor. w. j. NJ, NJ. d.
NEW YORK. Dec. z, 1879.