2007-01-27 10:34:46 · 8 answers · asked by eviltwin 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The discovery channel did a show on this once and they said when Marie Antionette was beheaded that she actually blushed afterwards, in other cases people have blinked, tried to move their mouth, etc. Depending one the account and how accurate they were people have said anywhere from 5 seconds to 2 mins.
2007-01-27 10:44:23 · answer #1 · answered by kindfirez 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For school, I know someone who did a report on this. I believe it is 15 seconds before the brain stopped working.
Also, I think there was a book written by someone who wondered what the recently decapitated person was thinking in those 15 seconds.
2007-01-27 18:50:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brain cells begin to die after 4 minutes without Oxygen. The incredible shock of a beheading combined with the possible damage to the brain stem would probably shorten that time considerably. There were test done during the time where people were called by name and opened their eyes. Science of the time didn't allow for complete studies and we don't use this method today in countries with the means to study it. So it may never be known for sure.
2007-01-27 21:23:12 · answer #3 · answered by rabbitmedic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard a wide range of numbers, but I think it's 15-20 seconds or more. Obviously, it's kind of hard to completely determine because no one ever lived to tell about being guillotined.
2007-01-28 00:11:43 · answer #4 · answered by AskerOfQuestions 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Saddam was hanged, they interviewed well known forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden who commented on the physiological aspects of hanging.
His comments included: "The brain has a 15 second supply of oxygen". Thenafter it would presumably cease functioning. Seems like that should also apply to clean beheadings.
I wonder if those reports of lips moving and eyes rolling weren't just spasmodic nervous reactions rather than signs of true conciousness.
2007-01-27 19:41:52 · answer #5 · answered by Like, Uh, Ya Know? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purportedly ninety seconds. A really long time if you think about it. Its likely that the simple force of the blow destroys consciousness. There are eyewitness accounts of the Terror that describe eye rolling and lip movement following decapitation. these sorts of accounts should not be that difficult to find on line.
2007-01-27 18:46:17 · answer #6 · answered by colinchief 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it would either be 2 seconds or 2 minutes, I have heard both alot.
2007-01-27 18:41:49 · answer #7 · answered by Chase 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that Louis XVI brain worked to begin with.
2007-01-27 18:44:33 · answer #8 · answered by cap3382 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋