He was an early developer of artificial ventilation and also investigated the physiology of electrocution, a line of research that led to Fell creating the final design for the first electric chair.

George Fell was professor of physiology and microscopy at Niagara University as well as a physician at the Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo up to 1895.

[6] Early on he enlisted the help of George Fell, along with the head of the Buffalo ASPCA, in whole series of experiments electrocuting hundreds of stray dogs, experimenting with animals in water, out of water, electrode types and placement, and conduction material, eventually coming up with a repeatable method to euthanize animals via electricity.

[7] Fell would conduct a further series experiments, electrocuting anesthetized dissected dogs trying to discern exactly how electricity killed a subject.

[10] Although Fell was opposed to capital punishment he assisted in the development of the electric chair since it was considered a more "humane" form of execution.

In 1889 the superintendent of New York Prisons, Austin Lathrop, had George Fell draw up the final plan for the chair, a simple oak construction with a retractable foot rest, restraints, and mounted electrodes.

[13] Animal tests on a calf and a horse were conducted at the Auburn Correctional Facility to fine tune the alternating current generator being used.