Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-05-10
DEATH BY HANGING.
Or. HaSnmond's Arguments In Favor {
the Old Way of Exccutf IN.


Dr.. Haynmond's Arguments In Favor 81
the Old Way of Exccuti ,n.
The Society of Medical Jurispru-
dence and State Medicine recently
listened to paper by Prof William
A. Hammond on the Superiority of
Hanging as Method of Execution
DR.. Hammond began with history
of the methods of execution from the
earliest times. showing that the ancient
Jews tied rope around the criminals
neck, which was pulled at by strong
men until strangulation resulted; the
Turks. Persians and Egyptians used
the bowstring. while the Spaniards for
merly strangled their criminals with a
rope. but later substituted steel band
armed with sharp point that pierced
the medulla oblongota. In England
criminal was pushed off ladder or
placed in a wagon. which was moved
from under him after the rope had
been adjusted.
All these methods were designed
simply for strangulation. and the effort
to bring about a dislocation of the
neck. a method largely practiced in
this country. was of modern origin.
1t was mistake that the dislocation
of tho neck lessesed the agony.
death is produced just as cer-
tainly." continued the doctor, "by
hanging without breaking the neck.
and the custom of jerking the subject
into the air by means of heavy wei ght
is apt to result in the dislocating of
the spinal column. Originally hang
ing was designed for strangulation
only, and this death. when the rope is
properly adjusted. is absolutely pain
less.
lit is only on account of the clum-
siness and unskillfulness of execution
ers that we are called upon to witness
and to read of so many horrible scenes
at executions. A man in England.
who was known as 'Half-hanged
Smith. because he was pardoned after
he had been swinging in the air for
half minute or so, said that he felt
no pain. and cursed those who revived
him for not allowing him to die pain
less death. Physicians who had made
experiments = notably DR.. Graham
Hammond-had found that the sensa-
tons were first great weight on the
limbs. then tingling all over the
body. loud roaring in the ears. flashes
of brilliant light before the eyes. and
sounds of ravishing music. At no
time was there any sense of positive
pain.
1.-The contortions of the face that
are witnessed at executions where a
cap is not drawn over it. and the con-
vulsions of the limbs and the trunk are
not evidences of pain. They are the
same symptoms as those exhibited by
an epileptic-no more. no less. They
are not evidences of sensibility.
1.-The method of hanging known in
this country as 'lvnching' is the proper
one. Lynchers never fail. Sometimes
they shoot bullets into the dangling
body, but that is not necessary part
of the ceremony. Their victim is
thrown upon the ground. a rope adj
justed around his neck, and then
strong hands haul him up to the limb
of tree and the thing is done.
illegal executioners might take
lesson from the lynchers The GRIM
inal should be placed in chair. the
rope carefully and accurately placed
around his neck. and then he should
be deliberately hauled up by means of
a pull.y. He would then die within
seven or eight minutes and absolutely
without pain. IN y Herald