Background

Dr. Duncan MacDougall was a physician from Haverhill, Massachusetts, who in the early 1900s was intrigued by the concept of the human soul. He aimed to provide empirical evidence for the soul's existence by measuring its weight. His hypothesis was that if the soul existed and left the body at the moment of death, it might be possible to measure a change in weight.

Methodology

Equipment and Setup

1. Scales: MacDougall used a specially designed Fairbanks platform beam scale. These scales were highly sensitive, capable of detecting small weight changes.
2. Beds: He constructed a framework that allowed a bed to be placed on the scale without disturbing the balance, ensuring the patient could lie comfortably and undisturbed during the process.

Subjects

1. Human Subjects: MacDougall selected six terminally ill patients from local hospitals. These patients were chosen based on their expected imminent death due to various illnesses such as tuberculosis.

Procedure

1. Preparation: Patients were placed on the specially constructed beds positioned on the scales. The beds were arranged in such a way to allow for continuous weight measurement.
2. Measurement: The weight was recorded continuously before, during, and after death. This involved meticulous monitoring to capture the exact moment of death.
3. Observation: MacDougall and his assistants closely observed and recorded any changes in weight occurring at the moment of death.

Findings

1. Weight Loss: MacDougall reported that in each case, there was a sudden and measurable loss of weight at the exact moment of death. The recorded weight loss varied, but MacDougall noted an average decrease of about 21 grams (3/4 ounce).
2. Details:
   • First Patient: This patient lost 21 grams immediately at the time of death.
   • Second Patient: Weight loss of approximately 14 grams, followed by a further drop totaling 21 grams within a few minutes.
   • Third Patient: MacDougall encountered technical difficulties, but he still noted a significant drop.
   • Remaining Patients: Similar weight losses were recorded, though not always exactly the same amount.

Publication and Reception

Dr. MacDougall's findings were published in the April 1907 edition of the journal "American Medicine" and later reported in the New York Times. His study generated considerable public interest and controversy.

Criticisms and Skepticism

1. Sample Size: With only six human subjects, the sample size was too small to draw definitive conclusions.
2. Methodological Flaws: Critics pointed out several potential flaws:
   • Scale Sensitivity: Questions about whether the scales were sensitive enough to measure such small changes accurately.
   • Physiological Factors: Possible explanations for the weight loss include the release of air from the lungs, bodily fluids, or other post-mortem processes.
3. Replication: Other researchers have not been able to replicate MacDougall’s results consistently. Reproducibility is a key aspect of scientific validation.
4. Ethical Concerns: Using dying patients and animals (also used) in such experiments raised ethical questions, especially considering the era's medical ethics standards.

Broader Context

MacDougall's experiment is often cited in discussions about the soul but is not considered scientifically rigorous by modern standards. The concept of the soul has long been a topic of philosophical, theological, and metaphysical debate, and empirical science has struggled to address it definitively.

Conclusion

While Dr. Duncan MacDougall's experiment remains an intriguing historical footnote in the quest to understand the nature of the soul, it is not accepted as scientific proof. The methodological issues and lack of reproducibility make it more a matter of curiosity than a definitive study. The experiment reflects the early 20th-century scientific curiosity about the boundaries between life, death, and the metaphysical but ultimately falls short of providing conclusive evidence.

It was thought that this experiment originally took place in Russia. This is false as it was conducted in the US state of Massachusetts.