Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-11-30

mission and OF the society. The commits
sion has done nothing since ths law was
passed to provide method for applying
electricity to the criminal. The society
has Gone great deal, aud 1t is expected
that the suggestion OF the Medico- Legal
Society will be reported by the commig-
sion ss the approved method Tor use in
the state.
When the law was passed declaring for
electricity SIS the agent Of the future, the
society named smother committee to
specially Investigate electricity and re-
porE the best method of its application.
On this com r11ttee were DE-. Frank Peter
son, chsirman; Prot. R. Ogden Doremus,
DR.. Frank 81. Ingram and Dr.. j. M.
Blever. It reported LIST night.
The experiments we're made largely
upon dogs. DR.. Peterson conducted
many Of them in private laboratory.
Offers were conducted il New jersey
aud at Columbia College. Three methods
Of application were pro posed By outsiders.
One was the passing ct electricity from
wrist to wrist through the body; smother
wss the passage OF the current from the
head by means OF mstslic band fastened
to the forehead aud to one of the wrists i;
by the third method metal cap WAS to
be placed On the criminals hesd snd his
feet to rest upon metal plate.
The committee r. :cted all three On the
ground that large electrode currents
would be apt to produce commissions.
Near by points were better snd less
dangerous tef the operator. Suppose,
they srgus d Tthssahe wris. system were
adopted, ana the criminal should move
his arm at she momen.EB current WAS
turnad on ESdstriks re Operator. The
operator mWa. clso ld@shis life, IL ct the
moment hi opp ed Mbe TOUCHING the
switch Ess SDisegurSpshts ouM $50 be
trsses. -. ~ rss
first method proposed wss to place the
positive electrode sgsinst the spinal
column st the bsck Of the brain, and
divide the negative into two arms, one to
be plsced on either slice 81 the threat in
front, directly opposite the point where
the positive electrote touched the spinal
cord. The objection to this was that the
strong current might d!ssrrange the sof,
tissues Of the neck, and furthermore
would bring the two poles CT the power.
full current dangerously close together.
s The top OF the head WAS next consid-
ssred, and the distance between
F4hat snd ths back between the
shoulders declared sufficient &c
avert the least danger from the current
to those operating it This plan suited
all the committee, and experiments upor
dogs proved it satisfactory.
A leather res: holds the criminals head
and balds scross his forehead and tsce
keep him from moving. A metal bal
tipped with 6 bsll for an elecIode
is fitted 30 the top OF his head. Another
similar bar and bsll touch his barred
back between the shoulders and owe,
the spinal cord. The elecsrode which
touches his head is connected with the
positive pole OF the current. The one on
his back is connected with the negative
pole. When the poles ara >ined the cur
rent will psss dcWnwarG through the
head and go out through the pole at the
bscS. Electric currents difusa them
selves 50 broadly SO the conductor will
permit. The currents, therefore, almosi
completely fill the hesd and neck, swell
ing pear shaped and tapering agsin entel
the negative pole. This swelling OF the
current will Gu! every point OF vital ener-
gy in the brain and the great nerve pass
ages leading downward through the
neck. Death is instantaneous and with
out shudder. This is the wsy the com
mlttee described the process in the re-
port submitted last night.
The electric current, in passing through
the body from one point to smother, IN
dergoes more or less diffusion through
the tissues. A current passing from the
top Of the head to the small OF the back
will be dittused throughout great part