The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-09-02
Extract from the experience of Surgeon in the
Monthly Magazine.
THE DEATH BED.

Monthly Magazine
THE DEATH BED.
had never yet seen the agonies of death bed,
tho the sight of the human suffering become fam
iiar, and had ceased to excite those painful
tons which it had at first created had seduously
avoided remaining to be witness of the last strug-
giles of mortality.
L went up stairs accompanied by the husband
On approaching the bed side, was shocked to per-
ceive that his wife was dying, and that all human
aid was fruitless. She was young and must have
been strikingly handsome woman but her fine
features now bore the impress of the destroyer
Her cheeks were sunk, her nostrils and lips quver-
ed during the respiration cold clammy sweat
stood upon her forehead, and her countenance was
pnched, and wore that peculiar appearance, formed
by US fdcics hippocratiea.' / sat down /; her pulse
was feeble and intermittent She slightly de-
lrious but when reused, answered family and ra-
tionally. cnquired how she was, and if she suff-
cred much No. she said, no. none Whatever
it is quite gone. l am quite better and when |
have slept, shall be well.'-This said slowly
and at intervals, and with imperfect articulation.
Her sister, who was in the room, and in high spirits
as the pain had left her, little imag gining il IA
tai symptom, told that for several days she had
! been in great agony
| called the husband aside, and shortly but dis
tinctly Informed him, that very brief period, and
his wife would be no more. lie was startled but
incredulous {" she easier she must be BETTER"
the doctor had told him so | shook my head
and desired him go for her mother, who had Just
left the house, in the confident hope that her daugh-
ter recovering. He obeycd me very reluctantly:
and | again sat down at the bedside, waiting for
his return, in order to summon the surgeon. The
angel of death was, however, than imagin-
ed. A .fitful and unmeaning smile played over her
features her hands wandered about as if in search
of something while the intervals between respiration
became longer and longer; her chest heayed, and
that peculier gurgling sound in the throat, known
the '' death rattle," apprised me that the mo-
ment of dissolution was at hand. Her sister, ter
rifed at these portcnous changes, looking at me for
information | could only say, that IN few minutes
all would be She fed shrelIing out Of the
room, and was left alone win .ne dying woman
l sat gazing upon her with feeling Of awe and
dread; | almost expected to see the dark form of
Azarael stoop his victim, and the disembodied
spirit wing its way from its earthly tabernacle.
Beyond the plcturng of my disturbed imacina-
ton there nothing frightinl no struggling as
if mortality freeing itself from its sackIes of
dust distortion of the lip or limb as if the sep
paration painful one: the contrary, she lay
perfectly still, and the bland though uncartl-
ly smile fitted over her face, and though her lips
moved the motion rcscmbled those seen on the lips
of childhood in its happy dreams. Not n sound
broke the still silence of the apartment save the
rush of the fragrant breeze through the window the
slight rustic of the bed clothes made by movements
of her hands, and the low and occasional gurging
in her throat. My presence seemed, to my cowcd
and overawed mind as something improper so
strongly impressed with the conviction that
a winged spirit about to depart to its home
gazed upon her with a species of fascination with
out having power to withdraw my eyes a moment
from her face till at length, after slight convulsive
shudder, her eyelids were elev ated and u deeper
respiration took place. i waited in vain for its re-
turn. Her lower jaw FELL her arms and body lost
their life like position-she dead.
Buried in contemplation, remained motionlcss
till reused by the hasty entrance of her hus-
baud, mother and sister. Twenty minutes past, and
they believed her convalescent and they now found
her q corpse. withdrew to the window, and whilst
burst of passionate sorrow overpowercd the mourn
ers, they kne round the bed, the heavy sobs OF the
mingling with the wilder grief of the female.
looked mt the group; what contrast between the
living and the dead She lay before them as if in
profound and heavy Sleep her features perceptibly
changing and assuming their original beauty of eX-
PRESTON the smile that had played over them
gradually waning, and as the muscles lost their
irritaby whilst they weeping in all the atii-
tudes of first afllction, wringng their hands and
addressing her with vehement words of endoarment
After these occurrence, it was my lot to death
in various shapes, from the calm preparations, the
hope and confidence of unshrnking innocence to
the frantic terror and fierce impenitence for guilt.
1t, however, but rarely happened that patients were
at all concous of the immediate approach of disso-
luton and am not aware that in any instance
which came under my personal notice, any sign
exhibited that the moment of extinction was
anticipated ~ If Judge from what have seen
of death, its pangs are not painful and, consequent
ly, the sense of it is most in apprehension.
LamentaJle.-A Mr. NJ Ball, of Lincoln County,
Kentucky, of highly rcSnectable connections who