I began my examination. The entire body was limp, muscles and joints. It was as flaccid, the simile came
to me, as a doll. It was as though every motor nerve had gone out of business. Yet there was none of the
familiar symptoms of paralysis. Nor did the body respond to any sensory stimulus, although I struck
down into the nerve trunks. The only reaction I could obtain was a slight contraction of the dilated pupils
under strongest light.
Hoskins, the pathologist, came in to take his samples for blood tests. When he had drawn what he
wanted, I went over the body minutely. I could find not a single puncture, wound, bruise or abrasion.
Peters was hairy. With Ricori's permission, I had him shaved clean-chest, shoulders, legs, even the head.
I found nothing to indicate that a drug might have been given him by hypodermic. I had the stomach
emptied and took specimens from the excretory organs, including the skin. I examined the membranes of