The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-07
EXECUTIONS BY ELECTRICITY.

death should be in the hands OF men regularly
trained for that business
EXECUTIONS BY ELECTRICITY.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
The occurrence OF another execution by hanging
characterized by bungling more than ordinarily
voting leads me to ask space for few more words
in order to reply to some adverse criticisms which
have been urged against the use OF electricity as
means Of destroying life. and also to suggest to in
ventors who may be studying the subject certain
paths in which their Investigations may be directed
DIR. HAaMoNDs ARGUMENT AGAINST ELEcTR1cITY.
In your recent report of his views. Dr. Hammond
is credited with the following statements:-First.
that the apparatus produce electrical
discharge competent to kill must be large and
brous, occupying space equal to "ten trunks;''
second that it is expensive its cost probably amount
ing "to $4,000" third. that the wires would rust
and render its action uncertain; fourth, that the
effect of lightning stroke is not always fatal SINH
larly the electric discharge might sometimes fail.
These objections will consider seratlm.
Fv,st-As regards size In point Of actual dimen-
sions. the induction coil at the Polytechnic Institute
in London is the largest in the world The coil itself
is feet 10 inches long and feet Ill diameter.
With from to 50 galvanic cells it produces sparks
varying in length from II to % inches Making
allowance for the supports and for space occupied
by the battery, would appear that the entire ap
paratus does not exceed Az cubic feet in volume.
This coil. however. is by means the most power
full in existence About three years ago induction
coil was constructed by Apps. Of London for Mr..
William Spottiswooce +. r. s., which. with S Grove
(qusrt) cells. gives spark % inches long. with
ten similar cells. of So inches aud with
80 cells q spark AZ inches in length. or
10 inches longer than the longest spark of
the Polytechnic coil. The wire Of the secondary or
outer layers measures in length less than two
hundred and eighty miles. Leyden jars globular in
form and two feet in diameter charged to their
utmost capacity by single spark. and on connect
ing three of these jars charged by many sparks
it was found that the middle jar. although made of
thick glass; was perforated" 1t is estimated that
the forty inch spark would penetrate block of
glass six inches thick. Although have not ut hand
any exact measurements Of this apparatus. an en-
craving Of it has been published in London Engi-
nee,lng (1s77,. from which its dimensions be
timated with sufficient approximation to show that
the total volume Of the apparatus is perhaps little
less than that Of the Polytechnic Instrument. The
volume of the coil itself is fully twenty per
cent smaller. Both of these machines are
of exceptional magnitude and probably
are much larger and more powerful
than is requisite for the contemplated purpose. AS
Stunning the Stevens Institute coil. which gives
X
less is, to meet all requirements, that apparatus
In volume about IL cubic feet 1t is scarcely
to point ont that the dimensions or
the largest coils do not amount nearly to those OF
"ten trunks. and that the cubic space occupied by
the Stevens coil would not prevent its being packed
in q moderate-sizcd Saratoga" Furthermore. q
large percentage OF the volumes stated Is taken up by
supports and stands it is reasonable tossume that
very material reduction could be effected and when
this reduction is made special requirement. to be
brought to minimum by actual experimenting
on new forms of apparatus ! see no reason why the
vknpxu hint
tents of the average trunk is without the limits OF
practicability.
Second-Dr. Hammond's opinion to expense is, l
imagine-opinion. The Stevens coil. nine years
ago, cost $1,000 1 am assured by competent
thority that it could now be reproduced for con-
siderably less money. 1t would of course be
object tor the inventor to consider this in his re-
searches.
TAird-As to wires rusting. If by this Dr. Ham,
mond means that the connections between coil and
battery from coil to poles would oxidize. the
IT. snv time for few shiilnes. II he thinks that
the coil wire would rust. fail to see how consider
ing that it is covered with silk and varnish wound
very tightly and closely and encased in indarubber
doubt IL any properly constructed induction coil
could become deteriorated from this cause. and
know of where such has happened.
Fourth-As to the uncertainty of results. This Is
the most important question involved i'll the in-
quiry, and unless Dr. Hammond speaks from knowl-
odge gained through unpublished researches OF his
own his sweeping assertion is simply an assertion
which demands positive proof; and this. to cover
all points necessary he will find it rather difficult
to obtain. On the other hand, freely admit that
he il entitled to positive proof OF opposing views.
inc evidence is encountered But that n particular
form OF lightning electric discharge does kill in
fallibly is demonstrated. at least to tho extent Of
tn. EFFECT TIKI ELEcTRIc SHOCK.
Instances Of the very potent effect OF the electric
shock be easily multiplied. Thus. with two
Leyden jars. Franklin threw down six mon. Ganot.
in his Physics, states that Able Noet discharged
Leyden jar through an entire regiment of 1900
men, "who all received violent shock in the arms
aud shouders;" that 'Priesty killed rats with bat
teries OF square feet of coated surface ana cats
with battery Of about square yards OF coating;"
that "the phi ysiological effects OF Khumkors coil
very powcrfu: In fact, the shocks violent
that many cxperimen ters have been suddenly pros
TRACED by them and that "a rabbit may he killed with
two OF Bunsens elements and somewhat larger
number OF couples would kill man." NJ. Quet a
Bclg ian physician. in Ruhmkorfs laboratory acct
dcntaliy received the discharge of small coil and
very nearly killed. Professor Typdall's ex-
psricnce receiving the charge OF fifteen Lcyden
jars. to which i alluded in my former communica-
ton, is another example in point. or course. AK
electricians arc fully aware OF the potency of tho
coil discharge, they usually handle the apparatus
with extreme care. and hence the happy iewness
of martyrs to science" from this cause. In my
previous letter referred briefly to the experiments
made with tho polytechnic coil by Or. Richardson.
of London. i'll order to determine the effect of tho
discharge on animals. These experiments are OF
special Importance IN the present connection Tho
spark of the great coil is described as thick wirc
OF light surrounded by wido wavy flame. two or
three inches thick, which in blast of air rises to
twelve inchos." quote the following summary of
Dr. Richardson's lecture from the Lancet of May 10.
loby:--Dr. fACnafuson showed tuat the ''Hiinlnp
spark, discharge OF the first order, was
not fatal to life. and not very dan
gorous. although the flaming element burned the
feathers OF pigeons subjected to 1t. The discharge
by means OF an ordinary contact breaker produced
complete temporary anmsthesia and imnobility OF
the voluntary muscles. but LETT the muscles OF or
ganc lite unaffected and the animals recovered after
the lapse OF an hour two. The discharge OF
Lcyden battery OF forty square feet OF surface.
charged by three four contacts OF the
break was almost Immediately fatal. 1t
Is certainly a remarkable fact that tho
flaming discharge twenty nine inches long scarcely
affected pigeon beyond burning its feathers. On
the other hand, IL IL to be remembered that tho
spark here passed around and over and not through
the body. similar phenomenon has been noticed
in the striking of lightning. which apparently Is OF
two distinct kinds--haning. which Is not neces-
sarily fatal to the person struck. but which may
severe burns and temporary insensiDiity. ana
the penetrating discharge, which results In imme-
diate death.
TWO KINDS SPARKS.
IL will therefore be seen that the cardinal object of
the inventor must DO the high tension penetrating