[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

I've heard that if someone's head gets chopped off it continues to live for a brief while. Could there be any truth in that?

[that mad man]

I think it depends on how ones head gets chopped off.

When Mary Queen of The Scots was executed by axe the testimony of some witnesses stated that it was a clean cut except for some gristle and that her lips twitched a few times.

There was also reports from the "Guillotine" that some heads uttered words after being severed.
Impossible of course but, the oxygen in the brain would take a few minutes to disappear.

Bee

[another_someone]

I think it perfectly reasonable to assume that the head could survive about 2 minutes after decapitation, although the victim may possibly be in to great a state of shock to do anything.

Certainly, uttering words would be impossible, since one's lungs are separated from one's mouth.

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

It was the guillotine that made me wonder this. Beheading with an axe was very rarely a "clean cut" matter and more often than not several strikes were necessary.

I was wondering about the shock effect. It must be just about the most severe trauma a body could suffer.

Obviously the rumours about severed heads talking is complete nonsense.

[that mad man]

I think shock is the main killer in most cases.

[paul.fr]

I think shock is the main killer in most cases.

The shock of seeing the rest of you some distance away, yes that would do it. NB, i thought i had the monopoly on macabre/death posts!

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

I think shock is the main killer in most cases.

The shock of seeing the rest of you some distance away, yes that would do it.

And I don't suppose telling them to pull themselves together would help very much.  []

[neilep]

.....as a firm believer in empirical study I decapitated my daughters Barbie..



...The only after effects I detected were my daughters whimpers.....

..I tried to explain to her it was in the name of science but she failed to grasp the significance of the research.....!!...as a four year old you would think she would be more understanding !!

[that mad man]

LOL!

Tell her you were looking for the tooth fairy!  []

Bee

[Karen W.]

Neil, Actually you could prove the statement true "that indeed Blondes are empty headed and brainless!" LOL LOL..sorry I couldn't resist!

[Heronumber0]

i have read some things about the head still being able to function after beheading by guillotine. One mentioned Mme C. Corday who killed one of the French Revolution leaders in his bathtub to save France. Following her beheading, the executioner slapped her beheaded cheek.  Eyewitnesses stated that both cheeks flushed in anger and that the lips had a curl of annoyance. 200 years of research into beheading were in progress.

In 1905, a Dr Beaurieux had instant access to a guillotined head, he stated that the lips and eyelids moved for several seconds (a common occurrence). After the movements stopped the Doctor shouted the man's name (Languille) and his eyelids slowly lifted up. Languille's eyes carefully fixed on those of the doctor as a deliberate action as if in everyday conversation.  Creepy stuff! But why do I know this sad stuff and not the important facts? Why...?!!

In another instance, a physician