Year: 1871




from Paris, under date of September 23d We
give it for what it is worth;


promised you some extracts from the journal
of the Marquis -, the mysteries of whose
chambers were recently invaded and disclosed
by the police, and give you brief description
of the hidden dungeon, with its curously con-
trived closets and manifold apurtenances. Among
the contents of those secret closets were enumer-
ated several manuscripts in the handwriting OF
the noble murderer, giving in detail minute ac-
count of his various experiments IN resusltatlng
the lives of persons whom be had decoyed to his
den and artstieay killed--all in the interests of
science. 1t then became plain that he was
monomaniac, searching for the fearful secret OF
the source of life, and his deeds rival in sang
froid any of the most reckless achemists Of the
thirteenth century. I translate rerbatim from
the originals now in the Office of the pretect OF
the second ACCOMPLISHMENT, to whose known par
tiality to Americans am indebted for this and
many similar favors. After detailing various
experiments on the inferior animals, the manu-
scripts recite as follows


No g. The subject of this trial was thirty
years Of age, of nervous-sanguine Temperament
and full of muscular development. The fumes
OF charcoal was the agent employed to suspend
the vital forces, and was administered slowly
and unknown TO the subject, in order to derange
as little as possible the arrangement andrelative
position of the various organs and vessels OF the
body.


At the instant of inconsistencies the femoral
artery was opened the knee aud every drop
of blood extracted. Having ligatured the artery
in such manner that could open and close 1t
at will, | then opened the large vein in the left
arm, preparatory to introducing the artificial
blood already prepared according to the formula
to be found in MS. tome Il p. 35. Aud through
this was caused to pass a current of electricity
on silver wires, joined at the end in ball of
platinum, until the thermometer indicated the
same temperature which the body then held
Having previously adjusted the Voltaic pile to
the form of the subject the fluid was injected by
a most powerful syringe to the amount of about
twenty pounds English weight, and as soon as
the heart filed, the whole force OF the fifty
jar battery was applied and simultaneously the
ligature of the artery was loosened. The influx
of the blood fluid being kept up, current was
at once established, but without action or effort
by the heart. local application of the electric
current was then made to the muscle, and to my
delight a faint but rather spasmodic action oc
Cured. The artery, which had been discharg-
ing slowly was then secured, and the air-bel-
lows were applied to the asophagus with regu
lar movement. The lungs filed at once, and
the same spasmodic action developed The
currents of electricity and of air were now ap
piled at regular intervals, corresponding close
ly as possible to an ordinary pulse beat and to
the regular breathing To my intense delight,
it now assimuated every appearance of life, but
remained plunged in torpor which my utmost
efforts and ingenuity could not dispel Had !,
then, succeeded in producing animal life, but
devoid of sensuous perceptions and the power
thereof? What is the thing wanted to arouse
this intelligence, and how connect the physical
organs with the system? | retire for
the night.


A night and day have passed in deep refec
ton The body remains in the same position.
The pulse beats regularly but family at about
forty-fve and the breathing decided, but faint
and noiseless. had during the day prepared
solution of iron and other material, according to
formula, tome Ill, p. II, and charged the same
heavily and the minerals retained the subtle
fluid efficiently. So powerful was it, that
standing on an insulated stool and immersing
my hand in the fluid, l could plainly feel it
spreading itself through my whole body. pro-
ceeded to inject this solution into the stomach
by the process of DR.. Des Dondes, and the
suit was astounding. flush speedily over
spread the face the pupils Of the eye dllated and
assumed look of intelligence The tongue was
looseneG, and obstructed the breathing, which
became stentorious. The pulse became stronger,
and the action of both heart and lungs became
visibly natural. | removed him at once from
all contact with the Voltaic pile and the batter
les, and made him assume a position parallel
with the magnetic currents Of the earth, and
then retired to the upper room and closely
watched his movements, myself concealed. AS
the fumes of the injected solution increased in
volume, movement of the feet and hands be-
gan, which, to all appearances, was controlled
by the will, and this action gradually extended
itself to the whole body. The legs and arms
were moved and stretched. The mucles obeyed
volition. The arms moved under him, and with
seeming effort he sat erect and looked around
him. He stretched out his hand towards the
gas jet which was burning brightly, and then
looked at bic open palm in evident surprise.
He attempted to stand erect, but at the first step
staggered and fell. He then crawled on his ell
bows to various shining objects in the room, and
invariably carried them to his mouth. watched
him ia silence and wonder, and at last addressed
him by name, but to my salutation he returned
inarticular sounds, and his attention instantly
wandered. The mYstery Was snnn snlyed