528 THE POPULAR SCLEXCE MONTHLY. 



that he was able to continue in this condition for the space of half an 

 hour : at the end of this time gradually the signs of returning vitality- 

 began to assert themselves until a perfect restoration of the functions 

 of life ensued. From the description generally given, we are led to 

 suppose that this was done not once but several times, and that the 

 subject was under careful inspection by medical men during the con- 

 tinuance of this state. But Braid, in his " Observations on Trance," 

 tells us that Colonel Townshend, as a patient of Dr. Cheyne, was in the 

 last stages of a chronic kidney-disease when, nine hours before his 

 death, he made known to his medical attendant his conviction of an 

 ability to " die or expire when he pleased, and yet, by an effort or 

 somehow, he could come to life again." This he tried before Dr. 

 Cheyne, with the result as just recorded. This case happened nearly 

 one hundred and fifty years ago, and, in view of its occurring only once 

 and under such peculiar circumstances, with no details as to the extent 

 and accuracy of the means taken to obviate all sources of error, leaves 

 room for the skeptic, without casting a slur upon the good name and 

 reputation of Dr. Cheyne, to express strong doubts upon its probability. 



A case which has interested the medical profession very much and 

 is of recent date, is that of the late Dr. Groux (" Proceedings of the 

 Medical Society, County of Kings," vol. iii., p. 350, et seq.), in whose 

 person there existed from birth an opening or fissure in the breastbone 

 (sternum) which he could extend by forcible separation to the width 

 of two inches. He was supposed to have possessed the power to arrest 

 the action of the heart at will for a duration of about twenty seconds 

 but without any other disturbance of his usual condition. The 

 arrest of the heart's action in this case is affirmed positively by some, 

 doubted by others ; one examination by three medical gentlemen devel- 

 oped no stoppage of the heart's action, but merely a stoppage of the 

 pulse at the left wrist, attributed to the unusual mobility of the collar- 

 bone (clavicle), by which the artery (subclavian) passing under it to 

 the wrist was compressed. 



Medical jurists, after carefully examining all evidence that can be 

 accepted upon such cases, have concluded that it is impossible to sus- 

 pend animation or to simulate the same, without detection by the or- 

 dinary means, for so long a space of time as one hour ; and it is fair to 

 assume that when such cases are reported they are due to gross negli- 

 gence, for where the medical practitioner does his duty and calls in to 

 his aid the ordinary means as taught in all the medical schools, of lis- 

 tening at proper intervals and for a sufficient length of time for the 

 heart-beat, he Avill find that no heart can intermit its beats that is, re- 

 main in perfect repose for a space of five minutes in time. Cases are 

 cited in newly-born children where twenty minutes have been sup- 

 posed to elapse after suspension of the heart's action before resuscita- 

 tion took place, but these are considered as due to imperfect or care- 

 less tests. 



