Houston.] [Feb. 7, 



2. A prolonged contact where the current continues to pass through 

 the body for some time after death. 



In cases of death by the first class of contacts, no convulsive move- 

 ments occur. Death results from physiological shock, or possibly from 

 changes in the nervous or muscular 1 issues. 



In the second class of contacts, death in many cases probably occurs 

 practically instantaneously. The question then arises, How can the mus- 

 cular contractions be explained ? 



The classic experiments of Galvani with the excised legs of recently 

 killed frogs prove conclusively that the passage of an electric current 

 causes convulsive muscular movements. The same phenomena, too, have 

 been observed in the human subject, as numerous experiments with the 

 bodies of criminals shortly after their execution have shown. 



It would seem, therefore, probable, to say the least, that when the elec- 

 tric current continues to pass through the body of the subject after physio- 

 logical death has occurred, such convulsive muscular movements may 

 occur, and that, therefore, their existence do not prove suffering. 



When a powerful current traverses the body, tetanus occurs, and mus- 

 cular movements in such parts cease. The nerve loses its sensibility, and, 

 if the current is too strong, changes occur in its structure or composition, 

 either as a result of polarization, or electrolysis, or otherwise, which pre- 

 vent it from being further affected by the electric discharge. Since such 

 changes presumably occur in cases of death by electric discharges, it 

 would appear that muscular contractions would therefore be impossible 

 after death. A brief consideration of the manner in which an electric 

 current traverses the human body will show that such a conclusion is 

 unwarranted. 



When the electrodes of any source are applied to any two parts of the 

 human body, a current passes through the body from the positive to the 

 negative electrode. The density of current that passes, or the current 

 strength per unit of area of cross-section, is different at different parts of 

 the body. Those portions that lie in the paths of least resistance, which, 

 in general, are situated in paths of least distance between the electrodes, 

 receive the denser and more powerful current, while those lying in paths 

 of greater resistance, receive weaker currents. In other words, in the 

 passage of the electric current through the human body, a diffusion of the 

 "current occurs. 



While, therefore, the nerves and muscles lying in the direct path of a 

 fatal discharge may be almost instantly deprived of their sensibility by the 

 passage of the powerful and fatal discharge through them, the nerves and 

 muscles which lie in the paths of less powerful currents may still retain 

 their power of electric excitation. 



It is therefore probable, that in cases of prolonged fatal contact with 

 electric conductors, the ensuing convulsive muscular contractions do not 

 of necessity prove suffering. 



I offer these views with some diffidence from the standpoint of an 

 electrician rather than that of a physiologist. 



