The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-28
DEATH BY ELECTRICITY.
Recommendation by the New York
State Medical Society How 1t
Shall he Done.
Reportin New York World

Reports New York World.
At the last meeting of the society a
committee was appointed, in view OF
the new law doing away with hang
ing after January |, to report the best
method of putting the law into effect.
The committee was composed OF DIR.
Frederick Peterson, late of the state
insane asylum at Poughkee psie; DIR.
]. Mount Bleyer. L. Ogden Doremus
and DR.. Frank III. Ingram, formerly
assistant superintendent Of the Black
wells Island insane asylum.
In the report which the committee
read last evening a full account of the
many experiments made on animals
was given. After an interesting ac-
count of the effect of electric currents
en- the human brain, the report goes
on To say:
The electric current. in passing
through the body from one pole 10 an
other, undergces more or less dltfu-
sion through the tissues. Figure is
an illustration showing how current
passing from the top of the head to
the small OF the back will be diifused
throughout a great part OF the BRAIN
and all of the tissues of the neck.
The medulla oblongata-a part OF
the brain which is the most vital
- together with all of the great
nerves of the neck and the spinal
chord. which exercise jurisdiction
over the movements of the lungs and
heart. will be thoroughly permeated
by the current applied IN this way.
As the seat of consciousness Is IN the
brain, and particularly in the cortex
OF the cerebrum, il is clear that this
faculty of the mind will suffer at once
if the current be sufficiently strong.
The electric stream flows from the
positive 10 the negative pole, and
there might be some possible advant-
age in placing the positive pole ON the
vortex OF the head nearest the center
of consciousness, although death III
any case will be instantaneous.
After mature deliberation We
recommend that the death current be
administered TO the criminal in the
following manner. A stout table
covered with rubber cloth, and having
holes along its borders for binding, or
a strong chair. should he procured.
The prisoner, lying on his back or
sitting. should be firmly bound upon
this table or in the chair. One cleo
trode should be so inserted into the
table or into the back OF the chair that
il will impinge upon the spine
between the shoulders The head
should be secured by means Of
a sort Of helmet fastened to
the table or hack OF the chair. and to
this helmet the other pole should he 50
Joined as To press firmly with its end
up-on the top of the head. We think
a chair i preferable TO a table. The
rheophores can be led off 10 the dyna-
mo through the iioor, or to another
room, and the instrument for closing
the circuit can be attached 10 the wall.
The electrodes should be of metal, not
over one inch in diameter, somewhat
ovoiaal in shape, and covered with a
thick LAYER of sponge or chamoist
skin. The poles ami the skin and
hair up the points of contact
should be thoroughly wet with
warm water. The hair should be cut
short A dynamo generating an cleo
tromotive force of at least 5000 volts
should be employed Either a con-
tinuogs or alternating current may
he used. but preferably the latter. The
current should be allowed TO pass for
thirty seconds.
Ia had been intended to have a dis
cussion following the reading OF the
report, but on motion of Mr.. Clark
Bell the president, discussion was
| POSTPONED until the December meet
ing, when IT was announced that Mr..
| Henry GUY Carleton would read pa
per on the same subject