Are They Really Dead Right Away?

During the French Revolution people thought it was the quickest way to kill someone.People thought that it was instant death, but is it? It only takes 30 seconds for the blade to drop and sever your head from your body. Some doctors think that it actually takes the time for the blade to fall for you to go unconscious. Also other doctors believe that after the spinal cord is broken it is instant death, but you still are in control  of your muscles for about a minute after. So basically it was not instant death and the Royals new that it was not, but they were to afraid to tell anyone. This is what caused disputes in the Royal family.