| Show BEHEADED MAY LIVE COMBATS THEORY OF INSTANTANEOUS INSTANTANEOUS INSTANTANEOUS DEATH Proof That It Takes Take Severed Head to L Lose ose e Does Doel Doe the Brain Die at Once Once Dr Can on the Subject From the New York Telegram In his paper Instant Death by Decapitation Decapita Decapita- tion an Impossibility According to Biological Analysis read at the annual annual annual an an- nual meeting held In the Waldorf As toria Dr J. J Mount Bleyer as the father of ot electrocution in hi this c country country coun coun- un- un try used for his subject the problem of Dr of Paris Does the Stroke of the Guillotine Cause Instant Death This revelation said Dr Bleyer has caused me to carry out a few experiments experiments experiments ex ex- ex- ex from which I formulated a most plausible theory In my opinion from all the facts gathered I and my assistant Dr Henry F. F Waite Walte concluded concluded concluded con con- that what Is to Lo follow In this paper will be received as a most rational rational rational ra ra- ra- ra explanation to the thinker why such an instantaneous death is an im im- im- im possibility Continuing Dr Bleyer said in part Dr who evidently evident evident- ly must be a keen observer has brought to our notice that that absolute death does not follow guillotining for fort t several veral hours on account of the fact that the brain finds nourishment for foran foran foran an hour after decapitation Also during durIng during dur dur- ing this time the head of the victim retains the sense of feeling hearing smell and sight Dr lays much stress upon a point In connection with the blood supply to the brain long af after after after af- af ter the head has fallen Into the basket Conscience Is a a most complex phenomena ena ena and consciousness Is a broad and sweeping term in applying it in general general general gen gen- eral In this connection after decapita decapita- tion We cannot Investigate the phenomena ena of consciousness like we do the phenomena of light and electricity The detection of consciousness for any length of time after atter decapitation with Its Ils many varying complex phases movIng moving moving ing onward Is hardly possible so we can only theorize until we find more positive proof that life lUe Is totally ex extinct extinct extinct ex- ex after decapitation Gross physiology physiology physiology and psychology alone Is not enough to decide for us such an intricate Intricate intricate cate and delic delicate te question and we must therefore seek aid among the collateral collateral collateral col col- col- col lateral sciences Is It possible that such euch a mass of living matter as the brain dies Immediately immediately immediately imme Imme- after decapitation Protoplasm Is known to live for some time outside of the body when severed from Its Ils connections connections connections con con- upon which It lives The blood of the body acts as food and air supply supply sup sup- ply to protoplasm and when this is Cutoff cut cutoff off does not immediately kill kUl the brain cell It has not by any means mean been proved by physiology y alone that In Inthis inthis inthis this condition th the brain is dead to im im- im- im pulse No one has proved as yet the difference between a dead and arid a living brain cell How Is It thus possible for forme forme forme me to know exactly what a live brain cell looks like from that in contradistinction contradistinction contradistinction to a dead one one If It we could differentiate between them we could more easily ascertain how long before before be be- fore tore the death of these cells takes place This would then solve the exact exact exact ex ex- act life lite of a brain cell after corporal death I cannot believe that every brain cell dies simultaneously The brain cell is killed by preparing It ready so as to be made demonstrable to the eye of the microscope Why then could it not be possible that the brain cell does also retain Its life as it Is of the same rame constitution and same powers as any other cells In Inthe Inthe inthe the economy Already we know that thata a muscle responds to all kinds of stimuli stimuli stimuli uli by contracting a gland cell by se secreting secreting secreting se- se an optic nerve can only experience experience experience the sensation of light whether stimulated by light worry electricity or pressure Irritability is a fundamental fundamental fundamental funda funda- mental property of living pr protoplasm but is manifest itself in specific actions actions actions ac ac- ac- ac according to the specific structure structure structure ture of the protoplasm under the influence In Influence in- in fluence of the external world AnI Another Another An An- other peculiar phenomenon enon deserves I special mention namely the transmission transmission transmission trans trans- mission or of stimuli Ifa If Ifa Ifa a small portion of the surface of a protoplasmic body Is stimulated the effect produced is not limited to this point alone but extends to far outlying outlying outlying out out- lying ends Stimuli as alt a whole are more quickly transmitted in animal than in vegetable bodies In human nerves This accounts for the phenomenon phenomenon phenomenon phe phe- exhibited In animal bodies long after death that when a stimulus stimulus stimulus ulus like electricity f Is applied to a apiece apiece apiece piece of muscle or nerve a reaction Is the immediate result such as contraction contraction contraction con con- traction or twisted This Thle alone Is another proof that the cell has an Independent life lite and does not die when life Is pronounced by the physician or physiologist as being extinct |
