Guillotine
This week’s topic is super dark. Bear with me. Guillotine or mainly known as alat pancung kepala in Malay is a device to behead people as an execution. Cigar cutter also looks like guillotine but much smaller. I learned this word through a song called Victorious by Panic! at the Disco (side note: I think this song is quite good to pump up your adrenaline. Just a suggestion!).
It is known as one of the fastest and easiest way of execution. It is also said that it was the most humane and equal way to execute people in the past. Why? Well, it is because the rich and the poor will got the same and quick way to be executed. I read in an article, in the past, the rich can choose a less torturous execution by bribing while the poor forced to accept any execution usually by hanging which will cause a slow death. With guillotine everyone will get an equal execution.
Have you ever wondered how long a decapitated head will survive? Thinking about the answer, I remembered how slaughtered cow spasm after being slaughtered. Gross? I know it is. Okay, the answer is around maybe 30 seconds, based on Dr. Beurieux’s journal dated on 28th June 1905 on his observation of an execution of a man known as Languille. I will make this simple.
After the man called Languillle was executed, his lips and eyes were moving in an irregular rhythm for about 5 to 6 seconds.
After a few moments, the spasm reduced. Then Dr. Beurieux called the guillotined man’s name with a sharp voice.
“Languille!”
The eyelids of the guillotined man responded slowly to the call, Dr. Beurieux said that the movement of the eye is like the living people being awake from their thoughts.
Languille’s pupils fixed on the Dr. Beurieux’s.
After a few seconds, the eyelids shut again. Then, Dr. Beurieux called him again. Languille’s eyes open again and fixed itself on Dr. Beurieux.
The eyes closed again but partially. On the third call, there are no more movement of the eye and the look now is just like the look of the dead.
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Things people do for science and curiosity. Some applause for Dr. Beurieux and Languille for feeding our curiosity with some answer.
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I hope Languille’s execution have a good reason behind it. Not some slander or because of Dr. Beurieux’s research (too dark. nope)
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Okay, that is all for today. I hope you enjoy reading it! This entry is based on a video by Joe Scott on YouTube.












