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THE GUILLOTINE
A doctor, Dr. Joseph Guillotine was the "inventor" of this machine that
beheads the victim by dropping a sharp blade that is weighted at a measured distance. As a member of the French Assembly he introduced the new method
of execution in time for the French Revolution in 1792. The person to be executed is brought out on a stretcher. Tied down. He or she is then pushed
forward and the head sits within the circle making it nearly impossible to keep the blade from its deadly capitation. Dr. Guillotine had sought to make
executions of all persons as painless as possible and based on his medical studies knew that decapitation at the neck was as painless as possible. It was not
new. It's reserved for the execution of nobles. He felt that the public hangings or torture then being used would be far better. It is with some bitter irony that
during the French Revolution he was to become a victim of the very machine he invented. As the blade came down the head fell into a basket. Blood would
spurt out and spray the basket and the area, and it would be washed down with a pail of water.WARNING When Visiting
For reasons of safety the blade has been bolted in place. However, it does work and is sharp. Please do not touch the blade or pull on the ropes. Please do not
place your head in the position of the person to be executed. Do not pull on the ropes. DO NOT TOUCH THE SHARP BLADE. |
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