Since the late eighteenth century, scientists have known that electricity can stimulate muscle reaction. In 1803, Italian scientist Giovanni Aldini decided to go on a European tour to demonstrate how electricity could make the limbs of the deceased move. In London, Aldini used the body of executed murderer George Forster. The scientists hooked up electrodes to the body and applied a current to show a startled crowd what could happen. At one point in the experiment, Forster’s arm raised and clenched its fist. Then his face twitched and one eye opened up. When a larger current was used on the whole body, the corpse writhed about, kicking its legs and terrifying spectators who thought Forster was coming back to life.