on a Criminal executed at Glasgow. 59 
“ Exp. 4.—The last galvanic experiment consisted in trans-_ 
mitting the electric power from the spinal marrow to+the ulnar 
nerve, as it passes by the internal condyle at the elbow; the fin- 
gers now moved nimbly, like those of a violin performer; an 
assistant, who tried to close the fist, found the hand to open 
forcibly, in spite of his efforts. When the one rod was applied 
to a slight incision in the tip of the fore-finger, the fist being | 
previously clenched, that finger extended instantly; and from the 
convulsive agitation of the arm, he seemed to point to the dif- 
ferent spectators, some of whom thought he had come to life.” 
An hour was spent in these experiments, when an experiment 
was made with a view of determining the quan:ity of residual air 
in the lungs; after the detail of which, the author proceeds as 
follows : 
« In deliberating on the above galvanic phenomena, we are 
almost willing to imagine, that if, without cutting into and wound- 
ing the spinal marrow and blood-vessels in the neck, the pul- 
monary organs had been set a-playing at first, (as I proposed) by 
electrifying the phrenic nerve (which may be done without any 
dangerous incision,) there is a probability that life might have 
been restored. This event, however little desirable with a mur- 
derer, and perhaps contrary to law, would yet have been par- 
donable in one instance, as it would have been highly honour- 
able and useful to science. From the accurate experiments of 
Dr. Philip, it appears that the action of the diaphragm and lungs 
is indispensable towards restoring the suspended action of the 
heart and great vessels, subservient to the circulation of the | 
blood. 
“It is known, that cases of death-like lethargy, or suspended 
animation, from disease and accidents, have occurred, where life 
has returned, after longer interruption of its functions than in the 
subject of the preceding experiments. It is probable, when ap- 
parent death supervenes from suffocation with noxious gases, &c. 
and when there is no organic lesion, that a judiciously directed 
galvanic experiment will, if any thing will, restore the activity 
of the vital functions. The plans of administering Voltaic elec- 
tricity hitherto pursued in such cases, are, in my humble appre- 
hension, very defective. No advantage, we perceive, is likely to 
accrue from passing electric discharges across the chest, di- 
rectly through the heart and lungs. On the principles so well 
developed by Dr. Philip, and now illustrated on Clydsdale’s body, 
we should transmit along the channel of the nerves, that substi- 
tute for nervous influence, or that power which may perchance 
awaken its dormant faculties. Then, indeed, fair hopes may be 
formed of deriving extensive benefit from galvanism; and of 
raising 
