The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

FROM THE PETERSBURG INTELLIGENCER.
GALVANICK INSTRUMENT
For determining whether life is extinguished
in animals apparently dead.

A mode of ascertaining the moment of the
vital extinction has long been desired. In
every case of suspended animation, whether
by drowning, cold, suffocation, &c. an instrument, which might serve as an infallible criterion to determine if death has taken place,
would be most important. Such an instrument
Doctor Creve, an eminent philosopher on the
continent of Europe, has announced to the
publick.
It is formed like a bow, both ends of which
are furnished with two round plates. It is
composed of two parts made of different metals; one half of solid zinc, the other of pure
silver; or gold and zinc; or lead, tin and gold.
It is, however, requisite, that the proportion
of the first metal should be less than the other
combined with it. Thus, the weight and size
of that made of zinc ought to be less than the
opposite one of gold. The plates are only
screwed on the bow, the greater part of which
consists of silver. If such an instrument cannot
be procured, he recommends the substitution
of a small piece of tin or lead, and a silver
coin of moderate size. Any part of the
body may be chosen for these experiments:
but the most proper is the upper part of the
arm.
Care should be taken that the skin be not
gangrenous or unsound in that part where the
incision is made.
In cases where the subject has been affected
by intense cold, the limbs ought previously
to be made flexible by the application of
warmth. The muscles are to be disencumbered
of all fat, and likewise, as far as is practicable, of all cellular texture. The blood is
to be washed away by a sponge soaked in
water.
After this operation, the muscle should, in a
slight degree, be extended, by stretching the
arm. The muscular fibres ought to be clearly
expanded, in order to keep the lips of the
wound duly separated.
The instrument before described must now
be held in the centre of the curvature, and both
its flat plates brought into perfect contact with
the bare muscular fibres. Attention must also
be paid to the fibres themselves, which, if irritability remain, will, in the moment of contact, be contracted and twisted as if by cramps,
or they will exhibit convulsive motions, all
which cease when the instrument is removed,
but recommence on repeating the same process.
If all irritability of life be destroyed, no instance
whatever will appear.