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Sir Ralph
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Long live teh Schwampel!
Dec 2001
time: 06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Spiffor
The most humane execution method until the 20th century. Much less harsh than rifling or hanging, and infintely less messy than beheading with an axe |
And only until the 20th century. Scientists aren't sure until today, if severed heads are able to retain consciousness and to feel pain, until the brain dies from the lack of oxygen supply.
Wikipedia writes under the keyword "beheading":
"An even more gruesome issue is whether a decapitated head retains consciousness after separation from the body. The issue has been debated many times, especially in the context of whether beheading is or is not a humane form of execution. No definitive answer has ever emerged. Many have argued that loss of consciousness would be virtually instantaneous, either as a result of the massive drop in cerebral blood pressure, or because of the impact of the severing implement. Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence, of varying degrees of credibility, has circulated for centuries that severed heads may, under some circumstances, retain consciousness for at least a few seconds."
And later, in the chapter "Decapitation in the modern world":
"The use of decapitation has been discontinued in part because of suspicion that the severed head may in certain cases continue to be alive to some extent and capable of feeling pain. Some evidence for this was gathered by studying the presence of death-related chemicals in the brains of beheaded animals. There have also been many apocryphal stories from France about the severed heads of guillotined persons that would change facial expression or move their lips. Certainly another major reason for the end of the practice of beheading is the violent and messy nature of the practice."
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14-07-2005 18:04
), for example Sir Peter Ustinov. Lafayette is played by Sam Neill there.
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