Life Returns (1935) opens with a signed affidavit as follows:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The actual experiment of bringing the dead back to life, which is part of the motion picture "Life Returns" was performed by myself and staff on May 22, 1934 at 11:45 P.M. in Berkeley, California. This part of the picture was originally taken to retain a permanent scientific record of our experiment. Everything shown is absolutely real. The animal was unquestionably and actually dead, and was brought back to life. May I offer my thanks to my assistants, Mario Margutti, William Black, Ralph Celmer and Roderic Kneder, who are shown carrying out their respective parts.
Respectfully submitted, Dr. Robert E. Cornish
After watching Life Returns, I dug up this information:
Dr. Cornish (December 21, 1903 - March 6, 1963) became interested in the idea that he could restore life to the dead in 1932. The cornerstone of his plan consisted of a teeter board or see-saw that was used to get the blood flowing in the recently deceased patients while a mixture of epinephrine (adrenaline) and anticoagulants was injected into their circulatory system. In 1933 he attempted to revive victims of heart attack, drowning, and electrocution with the teeter board, but had no success. Cornish decided to perfect his method on animals and managed to revive two dogs (Lazarus IV and V) clinically put to death on May 22, 1934 and in 1935.
As his experiments were successful on his dogs, Cornish wished to expand his clinical trials to include human testing. San Quentin Death-row inmate Thomas McMonigle (pictured below) contacted Cornish, offering his body for possible reanimation following his execution. California law enforcement refused Cornish and McMonigle's petition, however, due to concerns a reanimated murderer would have to be freed under the "double jeopardy" clause. After denial of the petition, McMonigle was executed in San Quentin's gas chamber on February 20, 1948.
I found these photos of Cornish conducting his experiments with descriptions
here:
Use of a new fluid by Dr. Robert E. Cornish to revive a dead dog failed today after partial success. The dog, Phoenix, died eight hours after it has been brought back to life after being "dead" for four minutes. Dr. Cornish used the new fluid in an attempt to preserve brain cells of the dog, as dogs in previous experiments have been unable to coordinate muscular movements after being revived. Shock was held by Dr. Cornish to be responsible for the death of Phoenix, and he said he believed the dog "would have come through" the experiment if the fluid had been injected sooner after death. Dr. Cornish is shown above with "Scooter" brought back to life last September and still lives.
Dr. Cornish working on Phoenix.
Four days after it was put to death, then restored to life, "Lazarus V" in the laboratory of Dr. R. E. Cornish, Berkeley, CA, was far more advanced toward normalcy than was "Lazarus IV," the other revived dog at the same stage. It reacts to light, smell and certain sounds, as well as touch.
Dr. Robert E. Cornish (above), research assistance at the University of California, restored a dead dog to life, and after ten days the dog was still alive and sedative to light and touch. The dog, killed by nitrogen, was given injections of dog's blood, adrenaline and heparin, with a type of respiratory treatment. In half a minute its heart began to beat, and in one minute it breathed hard. To slow the heart action that has worn out other subjects, Cornish injected Gum Arabic. The dog, although not conscious, consumes milk and eggs when placed in its mouth. Its eyes react to light and when its ears and feet are tickled it moves these parts of the body. Dr. Cornish, however, insists the dog must fully recover consciousness for his experiment to be considered successful.
Dr. Robert E. Cornish, Berkeley, California, scientist who has brought dogs back to life after asphyxiation, is prepared to try this amazing experiment with humans, pending consent of one of three governors of states where the legal method of execution is suffocation by gas. Above is the beginning of the weird process, with Dr. John Finn, Jr. rushing the “dead” subject from the lethal gas chamber to the resuscitating apparatus, to start the work without a precious moment’s waste of time. Surgeon V.M. Margutti, stands at the left, and Dr. Cornish behind the apparatus, on the right.
Above is shown the first step in the weird process. The subject is strapped to a teeter board on which he's administered a stimulant to the heart. Dr. Cornish is tying the patient to the board, while his assistance John Finn, Jr. (center), and Surgeon V.M. Margutti, (right) hold the subject’s arms preparatory to trying artificial respiration.
Above is the next step in Dr. Cornish’s life restoration process. The injection of Methylene Blue to neutralize the poisonous effect of the gas. The other necessary steps, are to restore circulation, respiration, and improving condition of the patient to normal after resurrection. Helping Dr. Cornish, (center), are Dr. John Finn and Surgeon V.M. Margutti.
Dr. Finn, Dr. Cornish, and Surgeon Margutti.
