Guillotine History

[anamchara]

In keeping with our esteemed webmaster's "creepy" Jack the Ripper posting, here a French doctor in 1905 observes lingering consciousness in a severed head.  Yikes!    

 

http://www.metaphor.dk/guillotine/Pages/30sec.html

Read this report from 1905. The report is written by Dr Beaurieux, who under perfect circumstances experimented with the head of Languille, guillotined at 5.30 a.m. on June 28th, 1905

" I consider it essential for you to know that Languille displayed an extraordinary sangfroid and even courage from the moment when he was told, that his last hour had come, until the moment when he walked firmly to the scaffold. It may well be, in fact, that the conditions for observation, and consequently the phenomena, differ greatly according to whether the condemned persons retain all their sangfroid and are fully in control of themselves, or whether they are in such state of physical and mental prostration that they have to be carried to the place of execution, and are already half-dead, and as though paralysed by the appalling anguish of the fatal instant.  

"The head fell on the severed surface of the neck and I did not therefor have to take it up in my hands, as all the newspapers have vied with each other in repeating; I was not obliged even to touch it in order to set it upright. Chance served me well for the observation, which I wished to make.

"Here, then, is what I was able to note immediately after the decapitation: the eyelids and lips of the guillotined man worked in irregularly rhythmic contractions for about five or six seconds. This phenomenon has been remarked by all those finding themselves in the same conditions as myself for observing what happens after the severing of the neck...

"I waited for several seconds. The spasmodic movements ceased. The face relaxed, the lids half closed on the eyeballs, leaving only the white of the conjunctiva visible, exactly as in the dying whom we have occasion to see every day in the exercise of our profession, or as in those just dead. It was then that I called in a strong, sharp voice: "Languille!" I saw the eyelids slowly lift up, without any spasmodic contractions – I insist advisedly on this peculiarity – but with an even movement, quite distinct and normal, such as happens in everyday life, with people awakened or torn from their thoughts.

Next Languille's eyes very definitely fixed themselves on mine and the pupils focused themselves. I was not, then, dealing with the sort of vague dull look without any expression, that can be observed any day in dying people to whom one speaks: I was dealing with undeniably living eyes which were looking at me. "After several seconds, the eyelids closed again, slowly and evenly, and the head took on the same appearance as it had had before I called out.

"It was at that point that I called out again and, once more, without any spasm, slowly, the eyelids lifted and undeniably living eyes fixed themselves on mine with perhaps even more penetration than the first time. Then there was a further closing of the eyelids, but now less complete. I attempted the effect of a third call; there was no further movement – and the eyes took on the glazed look which they have in the dead.

"I have just recounted to you with rigorous exactness what I was able to observe. The whole thing had lasted twenty-five to thirty seconds.

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[maryetal]

I've read a lot of bushwa from "doctors" of that era, but this one takes the cake.  I know that there is muscle spasming after death, which isn't to say that there is conscienseness after death.  But even if this were true, one couldn't realize much in 25-30 seconds.  I've had injuries it took me longer than that to feel. 

[Spooky7272]

Oh Yikes, is right! Well, those 20-30 seconds are certainly enough time to make an act of Perfect Contrition; who really knows when the soul leaves the body.

[maryetal]

Frankly, I'd being doing that from the moment they told me I was going to be decapitated.  If the Noahide Laws are implimented we will all have the chance to find out.

[CampeadorShin]

Why let yourself get captured?  Why not fight to the death?

[Mornac]

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_262.html

[maryetal]

I don't think Christians do that when they are called to martyrdom.  Fight to the death, that is.

[CampeadorShin]

Yeah we do.  But usually Heaven sends help.  In one battle in AD 844 a VASTLY outnumbered Catholic army in Spain marched against a huge Muslim army.  They marched into battle and guess who God sent to help the Christians?  St. James the Greater, protector of Spain, martyred in Jerusalem AD 44

Those Christians were ready to die a martyrs death because they could not win this battle without God sending help  Of course, the Spanish king recieved a dream the previous night, but nonetheless I'm sure these guys would prefer to die on the battlefield than let themselves get captured..

From then on they called St. James the Greater... St. James the Moorslayer:

http://www.sspx.ca/Angelus/2004_October/Road_St_James.htm

[PsychoMonkey]

I'm thinking of a good instance. Braveheart. During the battle scenes, yes, I would say one should fight.

 

On the other hand, at the end of the movie where he was captured and there was really no way out, then, at that point, I'd probably walk the martyrdom road.

FREEEEDOOOOOM!!!!!!