New-York tribune., 1909-11-10
HYPNoTIsM AND DEATH.

Simpsons body, covered with a black
cloth. lay In the norgue at the hospital
when Davenport arrived He went in
silently and In the presence of DR.. ". H
Long. county physician; DR.. Charles H
Halstead and Dr. Francis McConaughy
Immediately began his attempts TO revive
the unfortunate man First ne felt Of the
body 10 detect any possible heart beat
Failing in this. he placed his ear 70 tie
victims chest; then. invoking the power
Of suggestion. ne spoke in the dead mans
ear
Bob" he said. Bob your heart ac-
tion-yOur heart actiOn-your heart action
is beginning. II is beginning" ElOwIy and
dramatically Davenport repeated this n
the ear. then. changing his tone OF voice
TO an imperious command. he cried
sharply:
Bob! Bob. Can't you hear me? Your
heart Is beginning to beat Your heart Is
beginning TO heat" Again and again he
repeated this assurance to the inanimat-
form. while the medical men looked grim
Is on. Not a muscle OF the body stirred
and there was absolutely no sign OF ami
nation.
Again Davenport changed his methods
Leaning over Simpsons right ear. he spoke
C. Incidentally. 'Oh, I say. Bob" he said
I'D q QAirA NuilhF- -o--ltl4G. lDllEa lOOks your
heart is beginning 10 beat" He repeated
this soothingy time after time. but with
out effect
While this was going on a brilliant in
candescent lsmr shed its binding glow on
the dead mans face. but the eyelds did
not hutter Disheartened. Davenport
turned 70 go, but DR. Long called him back
What is your opiniOn?" he asked
~ did not come TO form an opinion" re-
piled Davenport.
But We insist" said the county physi-
cian
Well" replied Davenport. after a pause.
hes dead"
RESULTS OF AUTOPSY.
At o'clock tonight Dr. Long. assisted
by Dr. A. l. Stilweu and six local sur
geons performed an autopsy on the body
CT Simpson. which occupied almost thee
hours. Afterward the physicians issued q
statement saying that Simpson had died
from the effects Of a rupture OF the aorLa
the large blood vessel IN the thorax. The
autopsy also disclosed that the organs
were in poor condition. due. it IS said. 20
the effects Of alcohol
Everun has employed counsel and viii
hghi the case II has been suggested tnat
he viii make the novel plea that the man
was 9li-i a4isf Wien -lle autopsy was per
formed. citing various cases Of suspended
animation ss proof OF this
Or. John q. Quackenbos Of No. 3s1 WAsr
2Sth street, an hypnotic expert. when seen
last night by a Tribune reporter concerning
the case Of Robert Simpson. said that the
man could not have been killed bv au.o
suggestion. He said that II Simpson were
in an hypnotic trance ne might remain in
that condition for several days. without VS.
fble signs OF life.
1t is time that stop was put TO this
practice Of allowing quacks and amateurs
in the art Of hypnotism 10 conduct these
experiments" said Dr. Quackenbos. III
can only lead 20 more such cases. and only
qualified physicians who are skilled in the
science OF hypnotism should be permitted
10 make use Of it. l do not know the con-
ditions in the Simpson case beyond what /
have read in ire papers out from what I
can understand Simpson died as the result
OF the severe strain 10 which he was sub
jected when forced 10 sustain the weight
OF a mans body on his chest. The autopsy
discloses that he died from a rupture OF tbe
aorta. and I believe that Il will be founc
that this rupture was caused by the physI-
cal strain ne underwent"