Wichita eagle., 1889-02-07

was discernible; the heart and lungs were
normal The hair On the forehead was
slightly scorched where the metal parts OF
the electrode came in contact with It,
A second calf, weighing 145 pounds,
whose resistance between the electrodes
was 300 ohms, was subjected to a, current
Of 80 ohms e. NJ F. for five seconds
Again death was instantaneous, the heart
at once stopping.
Next horse weighing 1,230 pounds,
halter included, was subjected to the ex-
pertinent. With the connections made as
shown in the cut, the resistance was found
to be II, 900 ohms. The current was used at
about the same potential as before, but as
the volunteer had broken down, the electro
motive force could only be judged by the
degree of Illumination which it impaired
to series of lamps. A single tap OF the
hammer was used to close the circuit, but
the animal was little Ii at all affected. The
current was then applied for five seconds,
and again for fifteen seconds, and in
neither case was the animal injured appar-
emily. Finally the current at full poten-
tial of 700 volts, estimated was applied for
twenty-five seconds. During this time
steam was evolved from the electrodes,
showing insufficient metal contact Death
was produced instantly.
The methods Of connecting the wires to
the animals Were two. In the cases of the
calves, ordinary medical electrodes were
used. One was applied to the forehead, the
other just back Of the shoulders, in order to
bring the brain into the direct line Of con-
duction. The forehead electrode was cir
cular, two inches in diameter, and was COW
cred with sponge; the other electrode was
four inches long and two inches wide Both
We're covered with sponge, which was satu-
rated with a solution of zinc sulphate Of
specific gravity '054 at standard tempera-
ture. A portion of the skin where the cleo
trodes were to be applied was freed from
hair by clipping with scissors. The burn
ing of the hair in the first experiment was
undoubtedly due to incandescent and not to
arc action.
In the case of the horse, the legs were
wrapped with wet waste, and around this
the wires were wound directly. One con-
clusion that these and other experiments
lead to is that the resistance Of the animal
is due in great measure to the perfection OF
the contact with the skin. Perspiration IA
vors the contact and lowers resistance An
other conclusion is that the current should
be applied SO as to have the brain in its di-
rect course. "A ulStlnCG SAuGTouCo 10 uOGCu
between the action of the alternating and
the direct current. The alternating Cur
rent seems to produce a kind of paralysis or
tetanic condition, in which the animal
struggles very little, while the direct cur
rent brings about contortions which may
become very serious and powerful
The experiments were executed under
the auspices of the Medico-Legal Society of
New York The Importance Of determining
the best method of inflicting death by cleo
tricity arises from the new law of the State
of New York, which went into force the
first of January. This law substitutes
death by electricity for death by hanging
as the statutory punishment for capital Of
lenses.
The recommendation Of the committee,
which, in September, had been charged
with especial consideration of the question,