The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-17
The yivisection OF Crimiuals.

At the meeting OF the Tri-State Medical
Society at Kansas City last week. DR..
JAMES MooREs BALL Of Keokuk. Secretary
Of the society. read a paper called "Shall
We Have Human Vivisection |" He began
with a reference to the ancient medical
tradition that certain famous anatomists
OF Alexandria used to vivisect criminals. In
the hope OF discovering the mysterious
source Of life. Tho fathers of the Church
held that this supposed habit OF vivlsection
was fact. and accepted 1t eagerly as they
accepted everything else. true or false.
which would dlscredit Paganism. DR..
BALL doesn't believe that the vivisection
OF criminals was practised by the Alexan-
drian anatomists; but he believes that 1t
should be practised by modern anatomists.
for the good OF society. He believes. as
many surgeons believe. that criminals con-
demned to death should be put under the
influence OF an an@sthetic. and that physi-
ologists should be allowed to perform ex-
periments upon them. DIR. BALLS argu-
ment or tentative proposition may be
given In his own words:
"If grant that society. for its protection and
bstsrment has the right to take life TO execute
dsrers and hang rapists then iT seems to that
valid argument Against human yiyissetion can be Ad-
VAncsd Granted that capital punishment 10 right
A. Just and humane people believe in those modes OF
death which are rapid. efficient and permit or little
display. Am not that We are AlWAys just when
We are 30 humane as 10 sItlnguish life in . manner
almost painless: but our Constitution provides that
no unusual punishment shsl be Indicted Thus both
Constitution and custom favor the painless execution
of the death sentence Is in furhsranes OF this view
that electricity. in state At least hAs taken the
place OF hemp. We desire the condemned 20 die
pAinIsssly. Death by ehloTOfOTm Is painless
"nu right that man Who has forfeited his life
should 20 society much a. possible OF the debt
due society. Criminals should be utilized for
bensht Of society and the State Do We not employ
who are sentenced to the psnitsntlAry for tsrm
OF In the manufacture OF yAroas Artslssf Are
not In States these Asss sold for the bsnsnt OF
the stats; while In oIhsrs Is eonvst labor sold
the highest bddsr In either event the design the
pArt OF the lawmakers 10 that the fson shall pay 70
society and the state part az Least Of the debt be
OweA The theory will apply to IhoSs fslonS Who
about to dis The State should demand that they
pay the debt. Not in money, not IN labor. but In
submitting their bodies TO such painless sxperments
Onsr reasonable prospect Of bsnshting society.
-fhs condemned one should be delivered to : com
mission OF scientists With full authority the part Of
the STATE 10 pTOsscuts any inquiries desired provided
that torture be not indicted After the conclusion OF
tue experiment death would be caused By increasing
the amount OF ehlOrOfOrm sIhsE The scientific
commission should record aud from Iins 10 time pub
lab. the results thus obtAiRsd
"HsrS then. Is . var which Is humane 20 the erin
inA directly advantageous TO physiology and saFgsTJ
Ahd in this wAy Sf RealeulAbls poEtsnes 10 the hu
mAR race. That such experiments you'd BE- Of the
greatest advantage TO medical ssisnss NO one Hho V
s0nPsEsnt 70 pas an opinion on this subject iii DENY
DIR. BALL then tries to demonstrate that
the medical profession as a whole should
advocate the vivisectlon Of criminals on the
ground OF the advantages 10 medical science.
that might or would arise tromit.
"a 10 he 81.
8edieal man. and especially OF ayoung one.
over the prospect OF cutting up criminals.
What physiological and pathological and
neurological and psychological discoveries
might result. What data for the verifica-
ton Of obscure facts in the study Of hsred-
ity and degeneration aud the physical