Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-01-28


Of his life, to have his legs made a little
straighter? He replied that he would
ia l4nsh]; and under these circumstan-
ces was Of opinion, that as the young
man was content,. it was folly to think
Of prosecuting the doctor. The patient,
in this case, appeared to be as great "a
fool as the doctor whom he consulted.
and deserved to be punished for his fol-
ly. | have no wish to injure individuals,
and ! shall not, therefore, mention the
name of the operator. Some time has
elapsed since the case occurred. and the
transaction is now almost buried in OBJ.
livion. One of the parties is since dead.
not the person, however, who UNDER
went the operation, for he still lives, and
sproud of his improved legs"
PREMATURE iNTERMENT OF THE DEAD
Dr.. Macnab, a Scotch physician, saws.
Individuals of whatever rank. from
crowned heads to the laboarers in the
fields, are equally victims TO this uhnat-
ural CUSTOM the rich and the poor.
the child newly born-the youth. in
the flower Of life, and the favourites
OF the creauon, the fair sex, are alike
exposed to the danger of perpetual
death from premature interment. In
every age and country, history has fur
nIshed numerous instances of indlyidu-
ais, VINO. in apparent death have been
preserved by accidental causes fro0
premature interment. The short Pc
Rod Of tweuty-four hours allowed by the
existing laws OF France, for the purpose
OF ascerlainng the real or appayent
death of individuals, is far too short
There are many cases in which the
signs of apparent death are Witnessed,
and which cannot he determined for
days after they have been manifested.
could enumerate diseases in which
such signs are common.'
DR.. Macnab then proceeds, in illus
tration Of his proposition, to relate
among others, the following:
:" The danger to which the elegant
lady Russell was exposed, is too we'll
known both III France and England. to
require de!",ls. She remained seven
days and nights without any sign Of
life, and her interment was only deIay-
ed on account of the violent grief
which Lord Russell experienced al the
idea OF being separated from beloved
wife. On the eighth day, as the parish
bells were tolling for church, lady
Russell suddenly raised her head, and
to the amazemenL aad indescrlbabIe
JOY IT her husband, told him TO ge,
ready 10 accompany her to church.
Her recovery was rapid and complete.
and she lived many years afterwards 10
render her lord the father of a family"
The second instance is relate d by the
celebrated Oder, of Geneva, in these
words -
81 knew a girl, twenty-five year,
DID, named Eliza Roy. who narrowly
escaped being buried alive. She lived
at a distance of two leagues from &C.
neva. For some years she had been
SUBJECT 10 nervous attacks. which fire
quently deprived her of every appear.
ance OF life; but after the lapse of a
few hours, she would recover. and r.
sumo her occupations, as if nothing had
happened. On one occasion. however
the suspension of her faculties was SO
Protracted, that her friends called in Il
medical man of the neighborhood. whe
pronounced her dead She was then
sewn upin close shroud, according TO
the barbarOus custom of the country
and laid upon the bedstead. Among
those who called to condole with tn.
parents, was particular friend to the
supposed deceased, of her own ae,.
The young woman, anxious to take a
last look of her friend, unripped the
shroud, and imprinted kiss upon her
cheek. While she was kissing her.
she fancied that she felt her breathe
She repeated her carresses; and BEING
shortly assured of the fact other friends
not being dead, she applied her mouth
10 that OF the girl, and in short time
the latter was restored to life, and abIe
to dress herself"
DR.. Critchton, physician of the grand
D1Ke Nicholas, brother to the Emperor
OF Russia, relates a fact from bis own
experience, which powerfi lly supports
the arguments used by Dr.. Macnab:
A young girl, " says DR.. Critchton.
10 the service of the Princes Of.
with a nervous affection, at length TO
an appearances, was deprived Of life
der face had all the cha rantan &C la.IL