I once built a torture machine for the stage version of Kafka's "In the Penal Colony" that had a guillotine as part of it. It was never used, as it was only there to show the victim the only way to escape the torture was if the blade fell. Needless to say, this was not a cheery musical:frown2:. Mark
The cause of death. The person guillotined becomes unconscious very quickly and dies from shock and anoxia due to hemorrhage and loss of blood pressure within less than 60 seconds. It has often been reported that the eyes and mouths of people beheaded have shown signs of movement. It has been calculated that the human brain has enough oxygen stored for metabolism to persist about 7 seconds after the supply is cut off. As in hanging, the heart continues to beat for some time after decapitation. Various experiments have been made on guillotined heads and generally seem to show that little consciousness remains after 2-5 seconds of separation from the body although some have concluded that the head retains feeling for much longer. Whatever the truth, guillotining is probably one of the least cruel methods of execution and yet one that has a high deterrent value because it is perceived as gruesome.
I sometimes think that a return to public executions might prove beneficial in some ways. Today's executions by lethal injection, are far too clinical to have any real impact as a deterrent to abhorrent behavior. That being said, one can only imagine the freak show that would be assembled in the town square by the masses of sadists wanting to see blood on Execution Day. Beer-swilling rowdies, hot dog on a stick-eating children, t-shirt vendors and the like, all squealing for more, more, more - with cell phone cameras at the ready, in order to capture every breath-taking moment for posterity... Could be a boon for the local economies, I suppose.
:devil:Wow! I saw a blurb recently where someone converted a guillotine into a medical/surgical circumcision machine. The job offer was:50 skins a day,tips,and a chance to get a head.:frown2: Jason
Did you know that the correct pronunciation is gill-a-teen? I heard this on NPR. Pronouncing it without the L sound as ge-a-teen, while it sounds French, is actually an American affectation.
Canuckian, or at least the way I pronounce it is gill-a-teen. But then I pronounce foyer, foy-ya, not foy-yer. Mark