9 Most Shocking Experiments In Human History

John Deering was facing execution for murder. The prison physician, Dr. Stephen Bosley, figured that since Deering was going to die anyway, science might as well benefit from it. He wanted to find out what the heart goes through during an execution.

He agreed to the experiment and so, on 31 October 1938, John Deering smoked his last cigarette, sat down in a chair, and had a black hood placed over his head. A target was pinned to his chest and electrodes were attached to his wrists.

Deering was calm. From the outside it looked as if none of this was phasing him. The heart monitor said the opposite was true. His heart was beating at 120 beats per minutes (the resting heart rate of a man is between 60 and 100). The sheriff gave the order to fire and Deering’s heartbeat rose to 180 BPM.

The shooting squad pulled their triggers and four bullets ripped into his chest. His heart spasmed for four seconds and then gradually declined. 15.4 seconds after he was shot, John Deering’s heart stopped.

In a statement the following day Dr. Besley said, “He put on a good front. The electrocardiograph film shows his bold demeanour hid the actual emotions pounding within him. He was scared to death."