The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-26
A Very strang. story.

On the 18th of April. 1868, in the prison of
Nellarica province of Minas Gevaes), in Bra
I'll, two men named Aveirs and Cannes were
executed at the same time. In Brazil execu-
tons take place with closed doors, in the in
terror of the Prison.
DIR. Lorenzo y Carmo, OF Rio Janeiro, we'll
known by savants for his remarkable works
on electricity applied to physiology, his sur
gical skill, and his success in autoplastic
operations, obtained permission to profit by
this event in order to expOund on the power
Of electricity and illustrate its analogy with
some of the phenomena of life.
The numerous experiments hitherto at
tempted had been made on the head and on
the trunk separately. DIR. Lorenzo v Carmo's
design was, if possible, TO unite the head to
the trunk after decaptation.
The heads OF the two criminals fell within
a few minutes of each other in the same
basket-first that of Cannes, then that of
AYERS. Immediately after this second exc
cEtion a compression was effected by pupil
of DR.. Lorenzo on the carotid arteries of one
OF the bodies so as TO stop hemorrhage. The
body was then placed on bed already pre-
pared, and DIR. Lorenzo stuck the head as
exactly as possible on the section and kept it
in that position. The cells of a powerful
electric pile were applied TO the base of the
neck and on the breast. Under this influ-
ence, as in former experiments, the respira-
tory movements were at once perceptiDle
As the blood which pepetrated in abundance
through the surface OF the scar threatened
to stop the passage of air, DR.. Lorenzo had
recourse to tracheotomy. Respiration then
ensued regularly. The head was fastened TO
the body by stitches and by a special appa.
ratus. The Psychologist wished TO ascertain
for how long time this appearance of life
could thus be artifcially maintained. His
astonishment was great when he saw at the
end of two hours not only did respiration
still continue under the influence of the
electric current, but that circulation had
even resumed q certain regularity. The
pulse beat feebly, but sensibly. The expert
ment was continued without intermission.
At the end Of sixty-two hours it was evident
TO the establishment Of every one, that a
process of cicatrization had commenced on
the lips of the section. A little later signs
of life manifested themselves spontaneously
in the head and limbs, till then deprived of
motion. At this moment, the director of the
prison arriving, for the first time in the ex-
pertinent soon observed that by a singular
mistake, due to the haste of the operation,
the head of Cannes had been taken for that
of AYERS, and had been applied to the body
of the later. The experiment was continued
notwithstanding. Three days later the res
piratory movements reproduced themselves
and electricity was suppressed. DIR. Lorenzo
y Carmo and his assistants were supplied,
frightened at a result so unexpected, and at
the power of an agent which, in their hands,
had restored life to a body whose right TO ex-
list they had forfeited.
The learned surgeon, who had only had in
view a simple physiological experiment. en-
ployed all his skill to continue this work
which science, aided against all expectations
by nature had so singularly commenced.
He assisted the process of cicatriSatiOn,
which progressed under the most favorable
conditions.
BY means of an RSophagian probe liquid
nourishment was introduced into the stomach
AT the end of three months the cicatrisation
was complete, and motion. though still difh-
cult became more and more extended.
At length, at the end of seven months and
| half Aveirs-Cannes was able to rise and
walk, feeling only slight stiffness in bis
neck and limbs.
| So ends the remarkable story. Who can
| tell the results of scientific investigation
| carried so far? In families natural effects
may he remedied by readjusting heads and
/ bodies not originally proportioned for each
/ other, and human beings, dissatisfied with
4 their sex may, under the benevolent system
| of DR.. loreuz0y Carmo, repair the error OF
| their origin. 1t will be a question for law
| yers to determine to what nationality these
| future beings are to belong if head and body
have previously owed separate allegiance
| But If this system holds good in violent
| deaths, surely it may be applied to deaths
ensuing, as the c0r0ners' juries have il
| from natural causes. In this case we nigh
| preserve our statesmen and celebrities forev
| er. Opponents of this system would, how
ever. be found in heirs apparent.