# How long would a decapitated head live?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-decapitated-head-live/336271>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 19, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-decapitated-head-live/336271 "2005-12-19T07:02:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-decapitated-head-live/336271/41 "2005-12-20T20:52:19Z")

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> [@Mouse\_Maven](#):
>
> A common way to euthanize rats is to use a miniture guillotine.

Awww… isn’t that cute!  
😃

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-decapitated-head-live/336271/42 "2005-12-20T21:08:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Not to mean to sidetrack this thread. But-------
> 
> It seems to me that most all forms of execution leave open the possibility of a very short moment in time when the executed might have some consciousness.

In T.J. Bass’ science fiction novel **The Godwhale** a guy about to be executed by decapitation had a life0-support mechanism built into the turban he was wearing. After he was decapitated, his head lived long enough for his folowers to get it transplanted.

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**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-decapitated-head-live/336271/43 "2005-12-20T22:57:22Z")

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> [@alimarx](#):
>
> Awww… isn’t that cute!  
> 😃

Here’s a picture of the equipment  
http://store.wpiinc.com/browseproducts/Small-Rodent-Guillotine—1.5-in.-opening.HTML

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