Alexander Gromnitsky's Blog

The galvanic session

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On the 18th January, 1803, an experiment of the Galvanic process was made on a convict, who was hanged for a wilful murder. Professor Giovanni Aldini:

"... showed the powers of Galvanism to be far superior to those of any other stimulant. On the first application of the process to the face, the jaw of the deceased criminal began to quiver, and the adjoining muscles were horribly contorted, and one eye actually opened. In the subsequent part of the process, the right hand was raised and clenched, and the legs and thighs were set in motion.

Mr. Pass, the beadle of the Surgeons' Company, being officially present during the time of these extraordinary experiments, was so alarmed, that on his going home he died from fright."

(From The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate Calendar, Vol. 1, by Camden Pelham.)


Tags: quote, england
Authors: ag