The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-12
LIFE AFTER ELECTROCUTION.
Dogs Killed by Electricity Restored
by Infusion of Blood.
From The New York Herald

From the New York Herald.
DR.. Richard H. Cunningham of Columbia
University, asserts that he can bring the
dead to life when death has been caused by
an electric shock
DR.. Cunningham has for long time been
engased in making experiments at tie Van
derbilt clinic at Amsterdam avenue and
oXueth street, on dogs, turtles and frogs
He states that it has been demonstrated
peyond contradiction that an animal appar-
entity Killed by contact with an electric cur
rent, and in whose body respiration and
circulation have ceased, may be brought
to life.
Could Restore Legally Killed.
It is also asserted by DR.. Cunningham
mat an ordinary industrial electric current
such as is used in performing legal execu-
IONS in New York state, does not produce
instant death, and that if it were possible
10 nave IN constant readiness suitable APP
paratus, Inc suspended vital functions and
Consciousness could be restored
experiments, which he has made, accord
ing TO the proposition, establish the fact
That in cases where death follows an cleo
ulc shock, it is not caused by paralysis of
uhe heart or by any of the other causes
20 which death has heretofore been at
ln0uted but to fibrilear contraction Of the
heart, which results in collapse of the ner-
Vous system. In all cases of this kind,
IL is claimed, death is preceded by a period
OF consciousness, during which the recip-
lent OF the shock feels, but at the same
ume 1t is improbable that there is an ac-
companying sensation of pain.
Or. Cunningham says that il is only in
lAe case Of an electric shock wherein the
current is so strong that all the tissues
are cooked, and the nervous system thus
destroyed, that death is instantaneous.
Interest i'm Experiments.
Particular interest is attached to DR..
H Nunninghams experiments because of the
H constantly increasing number of accident
a. deaths due to the greater use of electric
ny and also because of the electrocution
Of criminals, doubt having arisen in GER
Il 'ain quarters as to the desirability of this
means of legal killing.
Or Cunningham, as a result of his ex-
peHments, believes that, while a criminal
may not die Immediately from the effects
VI 'he application of an electrical current,
II Is not probable that the subject is alive
ny the time he has passed to the operating
'aoe' 1t being unlikely that the nervous
S9slem mas continued to exist for so long
ume. The heart in some instances is
10y uead. 1t is the nervous system that
nas received the shock and exhausted its
Vitality.
BECAUSE mans respiration and circu-
rt nave Deen suspended he has not
boa'HVely passed the point where il would
C possible to restore animation. Dr.
unhiugham would not, in such cases. at
Snpt to induce artificial respiration a
Sstem to which recourse is often had
u' winch DR. Cunningham believes to lie
4 eless' In his laboratory he has an ap-
alatus which he has used in experiments
u 1non dogs He has found 1t to be abso-
NY necessary to have supply OF fresh
4 l0VN at hand. He found it preferable
81 s nave blood from animals OF the same
4 ny would be necessary for practical pur-
A nasesl Dr Cunningham says, to have ap-
81 be fuses uses In various places which could
L escorted to without delay. They should
4 yldced in drug stores or similar estab-
Il ,rin ''ieilts. In cases of contact with cleo
bo currents no valuable time would thus
IN applying the restoratves.
MUSICIAN Tells of Experiments.
bad describing the experiments which he
sni,ii llaae with dogs, frogs, turtles, etc, as
II ~ Dr. Cunningham says:
n inn. me thorax of an animal be opened
b bas eulateiy after strong electric current
ana passed through TIE heart via the skin,
a 'ne heart be exposed, IL will be seen