Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-06-11
Scientific Experiments with tho Dead.

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Scientific Experiments with tho Dead.
WHEN Edwin Hoyt was hanged at
Bridgeport, Conn, on Thursday last,
the action of his heart seemed to have
entirely ceased in twelve and a hall
minutes after his fall through the gal
lows trap. Not even faint 6uttering
could be detected, such as is very often
kept up long after pulsation is no longer
discernible at the wrists. So long as
that futtering continues life is not be-
yond recall by the application of proper
treatment. In order to make certain of
death in this instance, the physicians
permitted the body to hang twenty-five
minutes before they authoritatively de-
clared Edwin Hoyt's heart still forever.
Even after that Judgment was pro-
nOunced, the suspension was continued
for ten minutes more, not only to insure
compliance with the mandate of the law
that Hoyt should be changed by the
neck until he was dead" but that he
should be absolutely beyond the possi-
bility of recall to life by certain scientific
experiments which were contemplated.
As quickly as possible after the corpse
was cut down, it was carried through
the prison to the hospital department of
the jail, which is in the second story,
and was there placed upon table where
preparations had all been made for the
proposed experiments. Drs. Robert
Lauder, N. E. Warden, G. L. Porter
and f. M. Wilson of Bridgeport, Dr.
Marshall of Stamford, DR.. Mooney
of Stratford, and DR.. Benedict of Beth
el, were in charge of the experiments.
There were also present some fifteen or
twenty other physicians, the Rev. DIR.
Maxey, the Rev. Mr.. Charles Il. Harris,
and number of merchants and other
citizens of Bridgeport, who were in at
tendance in the character of Sheriff S
deputies.
The first proceeding in order was
general examination by the physicians
present to ascertain whether Hoyt's
neck had been dislocated or fractured.
They finally arrived at the conclusion
that it had been dislocated, but not
broken. This was based on the impos-
sibilily of detecting any crepitus, or
grating of broken bone surfaces. A
single-cel Kidder -galvanic bat
terry, capable of giving a very powerful
current, was next brought into requisi-
ton. Its first application was to the
phrenic nerve-that which governs the
muscles of respiration. An incision
was made above the clavicle, over the
course of the phrenic nerve, and the
other was placed over the diaphragm.
By then alternately applying and re-
moving the latter electrode, the muscles
were so affected as to simulate perfectly
the motion of respiration. In fact, real
respiration was performed, the lungs
alternately inhaling and exhaling air,
with a slow, regular motion, so strong
that breath was distinctly felt coming
from the mouth and nose. The corpse
now seemed to be simply a person
sleeping, except that the breathing was
not so heavy as that of living person
would be. When the success of this
experiment had been fully demonstrated,
the action of the battery was otherwise
employed. The muscles of the fore
arms, upper arms, and shoulders were
caused by the electric current to con-
tract with great deal of force, causing
the arms to double up and strike out in
the directions of natural impulsion in a
very lifelike manner. But these simu-
lations of life by the corpse--breathing
striking, and waving its arms about
were less startling than the next effects
produced, which were upon the muscles
of the face. AS the electrodes were ap-
piled to exposed nerves governing differ
ent sets of muscles the dead man opened
his eyes with a ghastly stare, closed them
again rolled the eyeballs in their sockets
moved his eyebrows up with an aston
ished stare, and frowned savagely.
Then they changed the currents so as to
excite the muscles of his mouth and
nose, causing him to twist his nostrils as
with a scornful sneer, compress them,
open his jaws and shut them with a
vicious snap, and work his mouth as if
he were trying to say something. Open
ings were made in the chest and the
electric current was applied to the heart,
but without effect. That great muscle
had ceased working forever, and not
the slightest answering throb could be
awakened. In all other respects the ex-
periments were regarded by the physi-
clans as successful, but here was the
limit beyond which they might not 90 in
making death burlesque life. Gould
we have made the heart move, said one
of the physicians, afterward, I'VE would
have had some hope of being able to re-
suscitate the man, for then we did not
hnow that his neck was broken
Would he have had to be hanged again
if we had succeeded in doing sop Well,
we did not think about that. We were
at the very portals of the great mystery
of life and death, seemingly. We had
induced natural respiration. If 1--WE could
have made the heart beat, with the lungs
doing their duty and that great force
pump sending the life current through
the arteries, it would have been actually
raising the dead to life. But that was
not to be.n
There has been great deal of discus
sion in Bridgeport of late over what
might be accepted as unquestionable
and positive evidences of death such ash
might be relied upon to prevent posi-
bility of the horror of interment of liv-
ing persons in a condition of simulated
death. 1t was mainly with a view to
verify the afiirmations of modern science
rs to such unequivocal signs that expert
ments on the corpse of Hoyt were pri-
marily resolved upon and the tests of
the effects of the electrO-galvanic cur
rent upon the nerves were regarded sim
ply as Incidental. Immediately after the
electric demonstrations very careful ex-
animation of the dead mans eyes was
made by means OF the opthalmoscope
by Drs. f.. NJ, Wilson, G. l.. Porter,
and N. E. Warden. They discovered !
hat the arteries of the retina were
empty, the retina pale, and the veins
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