A digression
When subsequently some days afterwards in reference to the singularity just
mentioned
this , the Purser a rather ruddy a rotund man person more accurate as an
accountant than profound as a thinker philosopher ,
said at mess to the Surgeon, "What testimony
to the force lodged in will-power" the latter
a rather
saturnine man formally polite and spare man and tall , one in whom a whose discreet
causticity was went along with a man manner
cumbrously less genial than polite, replied, "Your pardon,
Mr. Purser. In a hanging scientiffically scientifically
conducted — and under special orders
I myself directed how Budd's was
to be effected — any motion movement following
the completed suspension and
originating in the body suspended,
such motion movement but indicates
When subsequently some days afterwards in reference to the singularity just
mentioned
this , the Purser a rather ruddy a rotund man person more accurate as an
accountant than profound as a thinker philosopher ,
said at mess to the Surgeon, "What testimony
to the force lodged in will-power" the latter
a rather
saturnine man formally polite and spare man and tall , one in whom a whose discreet
causticity was went along with a man manner
cumbrously less genial than polite, replied, "Your pardon,
Mr. Purser. In a hanging scientiffically scientifically
conducted — and under special orders
I myself directed how Budd's was
to be effected — any motion movement following
the completed suspension and
originating in the body suspended,
such motion movement but indicates
but
mechanical spasm in the muscular
system. Hence the abscence of that is no
more attributable to proceeds from will-power as you
call it than than to from horse-power — beggging
your pardon."
"But this muscular spasm
you speak of, is not that in a degree
more or less invariable in these cases?
Cor "Assuredly so, Mr. Purser."
"How then, my good sir, how then do you
account for its absence in this instance?
"Mr. Purser, it is clear that
your sense of the singularity in this
matter equals not mine. You account
for it by what you call will-power
a term not yet included in the
lexicon of science. For me I do not,
system. Hence the abscence of that is no
more attributable to proceeds from will-power as you
call it than than to from horse-power — beggging
your pardon."
"But this muscular spasm
you speak of, is not that in a degree
more or less invariable in these cases?
Cor "Assuredly so, Mr. Purser."
"How then, my good sir, how then do you
account for its absence in this instance?
"Mr. Purser, it is clear that
your sense of the singularity in this
matter equals not mine. You account
for it by what you call will-power
a term not yet included in the
lexicon of science. For me I do not,
with my present knowledge
assume
pretend
to account for it at all. Even should
we assume the hypothesis that at
the first touch of the halyards the
action of Budd's heart intensified
by extraordinary emotion at its climax,
abruptly stopt — much like a watch
when in carelessly winding it up
you strain at the finish, thus
snapping the chain — even under
that hypothesis how account for
the phenomenon that followed."
"You admit then that the
absence of spasmodic movement was
phenominal."
It was phenominal, Mr. Purser,
in the sense that it was an appearance
to account for it at all. Even should
we assume the hypothesis that at
the first touch of the halyards the
action of Budd's heart intensified
by extraordinary emotion at its climax,
abruptly stopt — much like a watch
when in carelessly winding it up
you strain at the finish, thus
snapping the chain — even under
that hypothesis how account for
the phenomenon that followed."
"You admit then that the
absence of spasmodic movement was
phenominal."
It was phenominal, Mr. Purser,
in the sense that it was an appearance
the cause of which is not immediatly
to be assigned."
But tell me, my dear Sir,
pertinaciously continued the other, "was
but the man's death effected by the
halter, or was it a species of euthanasia?
" Euthanasia , Mr. Purser, is
something like your will-power : I
doubt its authenticity as a scientific
term — begging your pardon again.
It is both at once imaginative , and metaphysical,—
in short, Greek. " But" totally abruptly changing
his tone "There is a case in the sick-bay
that I do not care to leave to my
assistants. You will Beg your pardon, but excuse me."
And rising from the mess he
formally withdrew.
to be assigned."
But tell me, my dear Sir,
pertinaciously continued the other, "was
but the man's death effected by the
halter, or was it a species of euthanasia?
" Euthanasia , Mr. Purser, is
something like your will-power : I
doubt its authenticity as a scientific
term — begging your pardon again.
It is both at once imaginative , and metaphysical,—
in short, Greek. " But" totally abruptly changing
his tone "There is a case in the sick-bay
that I do not care to leave to my
assistants. You will Beg your pardon, but excuse me."
And rising from the mess he
formally withdrew.