The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-26 00:00:00

CREMAY lON v. INHUMAi

The Journal des Connaissances Medicales contains
an article by Dr. Caffe on the much-controverted
question regarding the expediency of returning to
the ancient custom of burning instead of burying
the dead. Alluding to the new cemetery which the
City of Paris purposes establishing at fiery, near
Pontoise, and which will measure 850 hectares
(2,125 acres), the author of the article doubts
whether even at that distance the emanations
from that vast metropolis may not exercise a
baneful influence on the sanitary condition of
Paris. At present, whichever way the wind
blows, the putrid effluvia of Pere Lachaise, Mont-
matre, or Montparnasse are carried into the
heart of the city, and the water we drink con-
tains cadaverous particles in dissolution. When
we consider that a mere scratch of the dissecting-
knife may occasion death, or at least require imme-
diate amputation of the injured part, the import-
ance of avoiding all such deleterious influences can'
not be denied. Taking into consideration the
motives of piety which induce us to desire the pre'
servation of the bodies of those we loved dearly'
Dr. Caffe examines for an instant whether embalol-,.
ing might not be resorted to on a large scale ; but
he soon discards the idea, on reflecting that such a
practice would involve the necessity of constructing'
vast subterranean receptacles, which would in a
short time exceed the cities of the living. Crema-
tion, therefore, is the only alternative besides
inhumation. The Greeks, the Romans, and the
Gauls used to burn their dead—why should not
we? This practice is not contrary to any moral or
religious principle, for the first Christians them-
selves used thus to dispose of their dead; and if the
Fathers of the Church objected to it, it was solely
because polytheistic superstitions were at that tims
connected with the custom. Dr. Caffe next con-
siders how the cremation of the dead could be
effected. To burn the bodies on funereal piles like
the ancients would in our days be a far too costly.
process ; but we have other and better means 01
attaining the same end. Let a large edifice, which
might be called a sarcophebe (purifier of the body)
be erected on some elevated point of the town ; let
the body be laid on a metallic plate, and slid into a'
furnace, there to be incinerated in a short time;
The ashes might then be colleted into an urn, a°
returned to the family. All this process might be
effected with the usual solemnities.
8

THE NEW JUDGE OF THE ADMIRALTY COURT.-1
Sir Robert John Phillimore, Q.C., who has been appoiutr,
Judge of the Court of Admiralty in the room of the Big'
Hon. Dr. Lushington, who has res'gned, is a son of Pt;
Joseph Phillimore, formerly Chancellor of the dioceses:,
Worcester, Oxford, and Bristol, Commissioner of the In"'"
Board, and M.P. for St. Mawes and Newport: Ho WI‘F
educated at Westminster Schocl and Christ Churcb,
O
ford, where he graduated in 1831, and took a second
honour in classics—among those who came out in honour`
at the time being Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Professor
D. Maurice, the late Lord Herbert, and Mr. PrideaOt
Q.C. In 1841 he was called to the Bar by the lglid.
Temple, and he was for many years a distinguished ad v°
cate in Doctors'-commons, where ho was admitted 8'
D.C.L. in 1839. In 1843 he entered the House of o°i"
mons as member for the borough of Tavistock, and r°,
tamed his seat until 1847. He has held the post of Claes°
Advocate since 1862, and is Judge of the Cinque Ports O.'
Chancellor of the dioceses of Oxford, Salisbury, and ,:,
chester. Sir Robert was married, in 1844, to Charini;
daughter of Mr. John Denison, of Ossington-hall, Nesn,srl
a sister of the Right Hon. John Evelyn Denison, At v
(Speaker of the House of Commons), Sir William Denis°
K.C.8., and the late Bishop of Salisbury.
yep
TIIE BURNING FORESTS.—We have already
°u
tioned the devastating conflagration which broke t,
nearly a week back in the forests of the Maures, on
1.i,:
mountains between Hyeres and Draguignan. The ,
having abated, the troops, sailors, and peasantry' Joe, 101:
length been successful in arresting the fire. The
estimated at several millions.
CROYDON CATTLE MARKET.—At market YeSkter'
,
day, the prices were as follows, at per stone, and sin
Avis
the offal : Sheep, choice Southdown wothers, ris 4(1; 8,
Keuts, 5s ; and coarse sheep
and
fat ewes,
4s
tore to 4s
Ott
lambs, 5s 8d to 6s M ; pigs, Bs. ld to 4s, and s
,12s to 18s a 'wad,