This was done
with practical purpose; Edison wanted know more about this
phenomenon better safeguard the lives the men working in
44
the electrical industry. Edison did not originate the
investigation into the killing powers alternating current,
he was drawn into the work New York state commission
investigating humane methods capital punishment. December
1887 the commission polled the leading figures the
electrical world this issue and Edison was one the
respondents. According the Arthur Kennelly, the chief
electrician the laboratory and the leader the team
investigating the effects electricity, they had not
distinguished between the two types current their
experiments this point. Among the people carrying
out research this area was Harold Brown, self-styled
consulting engineer and rabid opponent Westinghouse's
alternating current system.^
Edison was not the only one interested the effect of
electricity the human body. reporter from the New York
Herald asked the questions which set new direction of
experiments motion and Edison asked Kennelly find out how
much alternating current would kill dog. The therapeutic use of
electricity had begun well before Edison invented the
incandescent bulb and its popularity grew steadily as
electricity became more available. Brown had connection with the
Edison enterprise other than his employment electric pen
.V-27
electricity the human body early 1887
