. made the
„ 9
Company. Hastings" with "full reports. The Edison Electric Light Company covered the costs of
these gruesome experiments, which were billed the lab as
"made for Mr..V-29
electrodes were attached the feet the unfortunate
animals."
Edison's purpose sponsoring these experiments, the
view Kennelly, was merely demonstrate that alternating
current could kill. Hastings' correspondence shows that
the company was very interested the outcome the
experiments and considered them "of very great
51
importance.
. Edison forbade any public comment the
laboratory staff the grisly events the fall 1888. Kennelly
insisted that there was bias the experiments and his
notebooks testify the scientific method used and the
accuracy the recording results.50 Kennelly could not make
the claim that the Edison Electric Light Company was a
disinterested third party for they organized, administered, and
paid for the experiments."
As chief electrician the West Orange laboratory,
Kennelly also played leading part another campaign the
"battle the systems. The
results the experiments would speak for themselves." The account records the laboratory
show that from 1888 1892 wide range experiments was
done the areas alternating current equipment, high
voltage direct current technology, and devices like rotary
convertors join the two types current one system
