Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-02

on is without the slightest consciousness in the sufferer, provided the means used to execute preclude failure and thus pre- vent after sensations. The citation of a great array of cases in which the charge was not through the brain, was not fatal, and was attended with excruciating sensa- tions, proves nothing whatever against killing by electricity; but rather proves the deficient learning in the matter of the immense class of uneducated electricians, who reason from the order of facts famil- jar to them, when it is another order of facts which has long since settled the ques- ton of painless, effectusl, absolutely final killing, at once perfect in mercy and per feet in the execution of death.
 An electrician who could speak, not ex- actly from experiments, but from the re- suits ot good many years practice, has been reported as saying: "1t has always been belief of mine that it would take a mighty powerful current to kill me. Though 1t may not be so, have thought that electricity often kills a man because he has weak spot in him. I have taken all manner of shocks and they never did me any particular harm. In fact after it was over with I felt better. The blood went circulating through me at a rapid rate and l felt as if had life enough to accomplish almost anything. I took the entire current from thirty light machine. and although was thrown down in pretty lively style no harm resulted How did feel at the time! I have often described it thus: It seemed as if I had held out my hands and some one had struck them with a stuffed club with tremendous force The most unpleasant shock I ever received was from coil. It seemed as if needle had stuck right into me-"
 It IS undoubtedly true that a charge of electricity finds any weak spot, and may thereby have deadly effect, when other wise the blow could be borne It is also true that constitutions vary indefinitely in the power to receive, and let pass, a charge; and in proportion as one has the adaptation required to receive a large charge, in just that proportion are vigor and e1hilaration the natural result. But it no more follows that for such an one there is no killing charge than it follows that, Ii man has giants power, he could with impunity let the Washington monument fall on him. The blow which the charge gives may be indefinitely in creased in violence, until no possible strength. can live under it.
 Dr. Haynes says, in his Elementary Principles of Electro ro-Therapeutics:"
 Persons of great nervous sensibility are affected more readily than others. A small charge through the spine instantly deprives the person, for a moment, of muscular power, and he generally falls to the ground. If the charge is very power ful instant death occurs Bodies of ami malls killed by lightning undergo rapid pu- trefaction."
 We reach here the end of the story, @ conclusion the significance and compre- hension of which may be immensely add ed to by future knowledge, but the cer- tainty of which is far more absolute than that under which we commonly bury our dead. It is fair question whether cleo tricity could not far too often tell us of a hopeful, certain spark of life untiRely smothered ill the grave, but of the terrific certainty of decease, hastening to the last horror of mortal decay, there can be no manner of doubt, when, from the brain through the whole system, the rending power of a sufficient electrical charge has passed. The most remarkable example of survival of a powerful charge is undoubt- edly that of Professor Tyndall, whose af- ter-sensation WAS that of having been blown to pieces. This is the effect in the nerves and nerve cells, to send AS by an explosive, and destroy. to the last cell of the centers and channels of vital energy, the seat of life. The anatomist will not find it, but the chemistry of putrefaetion will tell the story-the end has come as it could not otherwise come, and the victim has not known it.
 EDWARD c. TONNE.