176 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY » [August, 



current, was, on the average, all that could be borne without discomfort. 

 Beyond that point violent muscular contraction, rendering relaxation 

 of grasp difficult, and then impossible, produces distinct pain which 

 agitates the whole body. They state, as their conclusions, that the human 

 body can bear with ease at least five times as much of continuous-cur- 

 rent strength as of alternating-current strength. Dosage of electricitv 

 is somewhat similar in results to that of many dangerous drugs. If the 

 dose is insufficient to kill, the result, owing to the influence on the system, 

 may range from a slight to a most serious effect. Where powerful 

 doses of electricity have been received and the party survived, it is to be 

 expected that recovery Vk^i 11 be associated with painful sensations which 

 may vary greatly in degree. In railroad disasters, for instance, we 

 have surgical shock from that which produces momentary paralysis to 

 that which produces apparent instantaneous death. This applies to many 

 cases of recovery from powerful shocks of electricity ; testimony is quite 

 uniform to the effect that no sensation was experienced bv the patient 

 at the time of stroke. This can only be accounted for by the assump- 

 tion that the electric influence is so rapid in action that sensation can- 

 not be transmitted to the brain centres before they are paralyzed by the 

 electric force. 



The testimony of many who have received powerful electric strokes 

 and recovered is almost unanimous regarding the entire absence of sen- 

 sation. In all cases where the cerebrum has been influenced, this ques- 

 tion may be decided in favor of entire loss of sensation. Had the sen- 

 sory apparatus of the body time to act under these shocks the recipient 

 would, undoubtedly, be cognizant of it after recovery. I will refer to 

 an experiment with the Kemmler chair later having a bearing on this 

 question of sensation. 



THE PRODUCTION OF DEATH AND THE UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY 

 IN THE EXECUTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY. 



The controversy occasioned by the passage of the electro-execution 

 law by the State of New York, has a direct bearing upon our subject. 

 I propose to give tersely its history and my connection with it. The 

 following report of experiments made by myself is copied from that of 

 the commission appointed by Governor Hill, of New York State, to 

 inquire into the most humane method of executing criminals. This 

 commission consisted of Elbridge T. Gerry, Dr. A. P. Southwick, and 

 Matthew Hale. 



In the month of July, 1887, there was conducted a series of experi- 

 ments, calculated to throw considerable light upon the powerful and 

 injurious effect of electricity upon animal life. The authorities of the 

 city of Buffalo, N. Y., had determined to rid the city of the numerous 

 curs roaming the streets. To reduce their sufferings to a minimum, the 

 agent of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recom- 

 mended that electricity be applied as the death-dealing agent. The 

 experiments were conducted at the improvised dog pound prepared at 

 old police headquarters. 



The canines were quartered in one room ; adjoining this was an en- 

 try which communicated with a third room, in which the electrical 

 apparatus was located. This consisted of a common pine box lined 

 with zinc, and connected with one pole of the electric-light current for 



