The year was 1907:
In Boston(where else?), Dr. Duncan McDougall conducted a ghoulish experiment: He watched 6 people die. Using a sensitive Scale he measured their weight just before and just after. In one case he observed a 21 gram decrease in body weight immediately following expiration. He concluded the soul weighs 21 grams and remains intact waiting for a new customer!
To the good doctor's chagrin, his scientific breakthrough received only a couple of lines in the NY Times.
It should be noted that no one has been able to repeat his macabre effort.
