Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-07-08
Sensation and Intelligence
After DecapltatiOn.

opinion Gnat utdIn ny ueucdolbS 10 "o
tended with less actual pain than any
other manner of death, and is, there,
fore, the most human mode of disem'
barrassing society of villain, others
contend and adduce an equally formi
dable array Of facts to show, that in
tense agony is experienced, after de-
collation., in both the head and the
body, and that death by the guillotine,
80 far from being easier than hanging
is one of the most painful known.
Whatever may really be the sensations
attendant upon the separation Of the
head from the body, we have, at least,
some curious facts, which throw little
light on the subject.
1t is related that professor In physi.
ology at Genoa, who has made this
inten sting subject his particular study
states that, having exposed two heads
quarter Of an hour after decollation,
to a a strong light, the eyelids closed
suddenly. The tongue, which protrud
ed from the lips, being pricked with
needle, was drawn back into the mouth
and the countenance expressed sudden
pain. The head of criminal named
Tlllier being submitted to examination
after the gullotine, the eyes turned in
every direction from whence he was
called by name.
Fontenele declares that he has fire.
quently seen the heads Of guillotined
prisons move their lips, as if they were
uttering remonstrauces against their
cruel treatment. If this be so, there is
nothing very incredible in the report,
sometimes treated as fabulous, that
when the executioner gave a blow on
the face of Charlotte Corday after the
head was severed from the body, the
countenance expressed violent indigna
ton.
It is stated on credible authority
that some galvanic experiments were
once tried on the BODY of snuff. taker,
after he had undergone the operation
of being guillotined. On receiving the
first shock, the headless trunk Joined
its thumb and forefnger, and delib.
erately raised it's right arm, as if in the
act of taking its customary pinch. and
seemed much astonishod and perplexed
at finding no nose to receive its wonted
tribute!
But the most marvellous tale is told
of Sir Everard Dgby, who was be-
beaded in 1909 for being concerned in
the famous Gunpowder Plot. After
the head was struck off, the executioner
proceeded, according to the barbarous
usages of the day, to pluck the heart
from his body; and when he had done
so, be held it up in full view of the
numerous assemblage gathered round
the scafold to witness the exhibition.
and shouted with loud voice, "ths il
the heart OF traitor! Upon which,
the head, which was quietly resting on
the scaffold, at the distance of few
feet, showed sundry signs Of indigna
ton. and, opening its mouth, andibly
exclaimed, that is lie.
The reader will be reminded, by this
case, of the English knight, of the con.
jurer in the Arabian Nights who, in
consequence of failure in his NEGRO
NANCY, was decapitated by the order
and in the presence of the Sultan. The
head of the sorcerer, after separation
from his body sat erect upon the floor,
and, with mysterious expression Of
countenance, informed his highness that
as be rather thought he should have no
further occasion for his books of magic,
he would make present Of them to
him; and since he could not very we'll
90 to fetch them himself, if Lis high.
ness would take the trouble to send for
them, he would instruct them in their
use. On being brought, he told the
Sultan it was first necessary for him to
turn oyer every leaf in the books from
the beginning to the end. But he
found it was impossible for him to do
this, as they stuck together, without
often wetting his fingers at his mouth.
This infused into the monarch's veins
subtle and virulent venom, as the books
were poisoned, in consequence of which
he died very soon in torture, over.
whelmed with the taunts and curses Of
the decapitated head.
A case occurred some years ago at
Ticonderoga, N. Y, which settles the
question Of pain so far as the body is
concerned, and proves that no sensa-
tions whatever can exist in the body
after its connection with the brain is
dissolved. 1t was reported at the time
in the Boston Medical and Surgical
Journal, as follows