The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-06-17
THE PROBLEM OF LIFE.
Restoring Natural Respiration" and
Muscular Action. but stopping short
when Attempting to Reproduce Beat
ing Of the Heart.
New York Sun.


ing Of the Heart.
New York Sun.
When Edwin Hoyt was hanged at
Bridgeport, Conn.,, on Thursday last,
the action of his heart seemed to have
entirely ceased in twelve and half
minutes after his fall through the GAL
lows trap. Not even faint futtering
could be detected, such as is very often
kept up long after pulsation is no longer
discernible at the wrists. So long as
that tluttering continues life is not be-
You'd 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
declared Edwin Hoyt's heart stilled for
ever. Even after that judgment was
pronounced, the suspension was con-
tlnued for ten minutes more, not only
to insure compliance with the mandate
of the law that Hoyt should be chang
ed by the neck until he was Dead"
but that he should be absolutely beyond
the possibility of recall to life by GER
tain scientific experiments which were
contemplated. As quickly as possible
after the corpse was cut down it was
carried through the prison to the hospi-
tai department of the Jail, which is in
the second story, and was there placed
upon a table, where preparations had
all been made for the proposed expert
ments. Drs. Robert Lander, N. E.
Warden, G. L. Porter, and F. NJ. Will
son, of Bridgeport, Dr. Marshall, of
Stamford, DR.. Mooney, of Stafford, and
DR.. Mooney, of Bethel, were in charge
of the experiments. There was also
present some fifteen or twenty other
physicians, the Rev. DR.. Maxcv, the
Rev. Mr.. Chas. E. Harris and number
of merchants and other citizens Of
Bridgeport, who were in attendance in
the character of sheriff's deputies.
The first proceeding in order was a
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 bro
ken. This was based on the impossi-
bility Of detecting any crepitus, or graf
ing of broken-bone surfaces. A single
cell Kidder electro-galvanic battery,
capable Of giving q very powerful cur
rent, was next brought into requisition.
Its first application was to the phrenic
nerye-that which governs the muscles
of respiration An incision was made
above the clavicle; one electrode was
pressed under the edge Of the c]avicle,
over the course of the phrenic nerve,
and the other was placed over the dia-
phragm. By then alternately applying
and removing the latter electrode, the
muscles were so affected as to stimulate
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 per-
son sleeping, except that the breathing
was not so heavy as that Of living per-
son would be. When the success Of this
experiment had been fully demonstra-
ted, the action of the battery was other
wise employed. The muscles of the
forearms, upper arms and shoulders
were caused by the electric current to
contract with great deal of force, caus-
ing the arms to double up and strike
out in the directions of natural impul-
sion in Il very lifelike manner. But
these stimulations 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 cleo
trodes were applied to exposed nerves
governing different sets of muscles, the
dead man opened his eyes with a CHASTITY
stare, closed them again, rolled the eye
balls in their sockets, moved his eye
brows up with an astonished 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
sheer, compress them, open his jaws
and shut them with a vicious snap, and
work his mouth as if he were trying to
say something. Openings 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 experiments were regarded
by the physicians as successful. but here
was the limit beyond which they might
not go in making death burlesque life
"Could we have made the heart move"
said one of the physicians, afterward
eve would have had some hope of be-
ing able to resuscitate the man, for then
we did not know 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 por-
tails of the great mystery of life and
death, seemingly. We had induced
natural respiration. five could have
+! made the heart beat, with the lungs do
ing their duty and that great force