The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-20

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal.
LOUTsvILLE. Ky NEW YORK. NE
Z The head closed its right eye once and
opened it, Then all further symptoms of
life ceased. Dr. Velepau was never able
to decide whether or not his question mad
been answered. The full account OF this
extraordinary episode will be found else
where on this page
DR.. Brown Sequard. one OF the most
daring surgeons and investigators of the
century, performed many experiments
tending to throw light on this subject.
He deca plated a vigorous dog and imme-
diately transferred fresh blood into the
head. The eyes Of the dog exhibited ter
rcr and agony. They responded when
touched by the finger and when a light
was brought near them Apparently the
head exhibited feeling and consciousness.
The advocates of post-decapitation life
derive great support from the declaration
OF Vulpiau, one of the greatest French
authorities on nervous diseases, in his
work Lessons on the Nervous System. -
Perhaps" says Velpian, II shall be
taxed with temerity in maintaining that
the experiment of TRANSMISSION realized by
DR.. Brown Sequard would probably sue
coed on a man.
IF ptysiologist attempted this expert
ment on the head Of a condemned man he
would view perhaps a great and terrible
spectacle. Perhaps he would restore to
this head its cerebral functions and awake
IN the eyes and facial muscles the move
ments which in man are provoked by the
is the seat.
81 have no doubt that II this hypothesis
wree realized. the lips would, at most.
form labia authorizations, for the head
would be separated from the apparatus
necessary for the production Of sounds.
"Why should not this experiment sue
coed? I leave aside the practical difficult
ties. but seek in vain to find what the
theoretical difficulties are. It is aquestion
Of general physiology, and II seems to me
evident that what takes place in the GER
bral functions OF a mammal may take
place also in a man"
Vulpians statement induced DR. La
horde to make a number OF practical ex-
periments with the heads Of guillotined
criminals. The first Of these was made in
1894. DR.. Laborde transferred the carotid
arteral blood Of a large dog into the sew
cred head of man. The experiment took
place an hour and half after the execu-
ton. He obtained a slight fibrillary con-
traction of the muscles of the face. a
trembling Of the skin and a reddening
OF the cheeks. He considered the exper-
/ iment inconclusive
His second experiment began an hour
Sc -. 7.
suit.
The third experiment was made at Tro-
yes, twenty minutes after decapitation
The only symptom was the reddening OF
the cheeks. A fourth experiment at Caen
gave no result
The latest experimental in this grew
some field is DR.. Paul Love. at present a
preparer in the physiological laboratory
Of the Sorbonne. and holding other import
ant medical posts.
In company with Or. Regnard he has
visited a great number of executions in
recent years. He concludes that decapita-
ton is the end of mental life Neverthe-
; less he has noted many facts which may
( be taken to support the other side OF the
/ case.
/ Here IS Dr.. Loves account Of one OF the
. most remarkable executions he witnessed:
special arrangements were made
through the courtesy OF Professor Brou-
ardel and the Procuruer-General Of the
Court Of Amiens by which we were ena-
bled % examine the head two seconds
after decapitation. Hatdlv had il fallen
( than 1t was in our hands
The patient this time was a man OF
thirty-eigh. vigorous and energetic. who
showed up 70 the moment Of the fall OF
the knife. the most complete confidence
AID calm. His face was not hideous from
fris.I,. as that % the condemned man az
TrUves Il was. on the contrary. smiling
and Tranquil. Instead Of becoming pale. it
preserved It's rudy coloring The head.
even afte- being inserted in the lunette.
preserved the same expression. I dwell
on these details because they vii aid Us
TO determine the mental state OF the indi-
vidusi a. the moment when the knife
struck,
The hea % The criminal was presented
to Us .es than TWO seconds after the de-
captatlou by one Il the assistants Of the
eNecu-ioner His face preserved is pink
color The features remained immo5Ee.
T,e eyes were wid opn with pupils half
tlated The mouth was ensrEet-cally
closed There was ~ spontaneous move
me7t in the head-17t the Iesst d5-.,.a-y
contraction Fl the face
we moved q finger near the eyes q
TIE head TIE face remained iu,7asstve.
We then touched ne globe and ths
corner q me eye and the extremity q:
the eyelsshes. and We observed. A. every
CONTACT. wink.ug Il re Ids as make !
as n a Hvics man TIE eyes closed each
tine. 20 reopen az once
'-rhe face assumed an expression which
al imprudeat observer would doubtless re-
gard as conscious We shah see tina; 8; s
oaiy a simple reflex action without con-
neciioa WIKI Tee mental uts.
This wlnk.as of yne eyea5s. which n.
obtained ave i.nes IT. ave seconds. ceased
70 SHOW i,seH Sfie- A very 6r.et me 81
the sixth second 3; appeared I'd more Tu,
touching u the eyes produced 70 result.