New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-11
DISCUSSING the DE4TH OF KEMMLER.
DR. spITzKA DEFINES HIS PosITloN-srCOAs-
TONS FOR TIE FUTURE.

DR. sPIrZKA DEFINES HIS POsTTlON-SCO"H'-
TONS FOR THE FUTURE.
Tho seventy. fourth regular meeting of the society
NJ Medical jurisprudence and State Medicine was held
last night a. the academy OF Medicine, AZ No ~
West Forty -thrist. Dr'. A. Zen ana Ernst Sc''i'u,
and James NJ smith ard y. r. Robinson were clecteu
members. Officers and trustees whose eceuoh 'ahcs
Mace nj the next monthly meeting. were nonilaea'
The feature of the evening was paper read by Dr
= G. sntzla on aThc Pre- mortem Phenomena ana
Post mor;em Appearances Observed in the case OF the
First subject of the New Method Of Execution known
rs Eicctrothanasia William kemmier.' Inc paper
was careful and deliberate Judgment OF the eAecu-
ton from purely scientific point oil vie" na'"ieu
after much thought and study. and 1t only EN-
pl,asized and made more clear the position al
along assumed by DIR. spitaka The paper
was discussed by Drs. Macdonald, Gray SAKE
Howard, Brill and Others. Dr. sptzha SAID
among other things: The new law is dnc
10 this society Three years ago il was ashacd ahef
several horrible hangngs had taken place. Inc com
nittee that went to Albany were In faVof Oh a"op.s
the ruillotne ss the best method OF capital punish
mept That is my choice. j am a moderate advocate
Of electrothanasia better than hanging Inc III
terval between the adoption OF the law ana the hrS
eyecution gave ample opportunity 10 make piepafa
lions. This time was moi used IN peilceuhe ''o u0
tails of the plant it should have been lherc 10 o,
thing against the method 1t requires comPhca'cu
machinery. The medical procession "cr0 noV "'""N'
cronch authority at the execution OF Kemmler Medi-
cal ewes we're hidden from the vometer which dd not
work. and which l believe was not mtchae'
TO work. During the first shock OF seven
tom seconds the victim exhibited tetanic con
yulsions in every fibre, which did not cease
dnrinc that time. About the middle Of this time l
observed a palor extend from the top OF the head
down to the eyes, also postmOrtcm purple congestion
on the nose exclaimed loudly, g" lie is dead" ana
aHo thN uOps
In the first fraction of second Blood oozing rom
the finger into which the contractlons pressed the
thumb caused panic among the doctors and others
who thought he Was not dead. 1t is well known that
in deash from electricity the blood remains liquid
ordered the current turned on again this was my
own mistake 1t remained on for fifty seconds and
tho oontractions grew less and less If the current
la renamed on Ave seconds more all motion would
have ceased but turned it off more In accordance
vjtal sentimental than In scienuhc spirit wheli
those in attendance exclaimed that the clothes and
~ beievs In the future machine of 5000 volts,
o.uertalv constructed, should be used IN pulldl1S
coSstruoted for that purpose by the state Sng the
eTocutions be presided over by competent eiectfan
coilar with two points Of contact on the neck should
he nsed This will prevent dangerous struggles burn
inc and long commissions. The execution OF kchn.
Ter was the most dignihed ] ever saw. ana nave
zen MANY 1t was the strangers who had never
osc an execution before and who knew not what to
expect from the acton OF electricity VINO "eic hofi