Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-09-08
COMPARATIVE SENSATIONS OF
THE DYING.

The ideas of the sufferings Of persons
on The point of departing this life are I'm.
doubleday TO n certain extent erroneous
The appearance Of extreme agony which
is often presented under these crcumstnn
ces is due to a mere muscular agitation,
independent Of any extraordinary sensibili-
ty Of the nerves Of feeling. Those who
die natural death, in the very last stages
of existence are scarcely conscious OF
bodily sufferlng-not more than they fire.
quently are to the attentions and sollcl,udes
of friends. II is certainly consolation to
reflect that. whatever may have been the
measure of suffering undergone by one Of
our cherished associates during the term
of his illness. the final moment is not at.
tended with an aggravaiion of distress.
Those who die by violence or accident,
undoubtedly experience degree Of pain
proporlonate TO ;he extent OF the bodily
mnila,ion. Hanging is doubtless an IN.
pleasant mode of death; but few, after OIL.
"shuffle off this mortal coil' more easily
| than those who are suspended by the neck
1t is akin 10 drowning in this respect. The
blood Immediately seeks the head and soon
deprives it of all consciousness
efforts to lnhale the al. which are KEEP, up
for some time after the cord is attached
and which cause such violent movements
Of the chest and extremilies, arise from the
influence Of the spinal marrow whose
sensib'lty is not so soon destroyed by the
congestion of blood, as that Of the brain
The person that dies by decapita,ion most
probably
| "Feels pang rs great as when giant falls"
but it is only momentary; this is the case
with those who blow out their brains.-
The sensation produced by ball passing
through the body would be difficult to de.
scribe by one who has never experienced
it.. But it is something singular in this
case that those who are shot, although the
"laden messenger of death" may not have
penetrated any essentially vital organ, i'm
medately fall to the earth, apparently
under an irresistible feeling Of their ap-
preaching return to dust. exclalming, a.
it were involuntary, 81 am a dead man. y
1t is .he more singular that, though they
may have cause for the most violent hatred
against their enemy. and though he may be
vii hin the reach Of easy and summary ret
ribution, no effort is made for his destrnc
ton. All motives of revenge seem to b.
taken away, their strength, fully adequate
TO such a purpose, is not exered.
A dagger wound in the heart, for the few
moments which are consumed in the ebbnG
of life. must recession unn'ierable feelings
of agony. independent Of the mere sensa
lions Of pain in the parts sundercd by thu
entrance of the blade The rushing gu
of the blood at each convulsive pusa'loI
of the heart. must seem like the actua
spectacle of the flow Of life.
Those who are crushed 10 death ma!
not expire instantly. unless the crimson
happens 10 be involved in the casualty
Where the skull is not fractured there i
probably an inconceivable agony for few
seconds, flushing thought Of home
friends, and family, and all IL over. Th0s
who are cut in two by heavily bu'ihen"'
railroad car must experience some simlla
sensations.
If the neck ia broken low down, tn
person does not necessarily die on the IN
slant. His situation is the most distressing
! perhaps Of any which can be imagined
He may live and have a being for days
, but he cannot move. His face may ex
, press all the passions. feelings, and emo
tons. but beyond the motions of his breas
, and countenance his energies do not &C
, His arms are pnloned to his side; his LEG
E are lfcless; and he essentially beholds b
body in the grave. while he is ye. IN III
full possession of his faculties. The lea
/ disturbance of his position IS liable
, launch him at once into eternity.
Death by the division Of the throat
the least, seemly modo Of making aw,
with life, that ever entered the head Of
? msdmsn; and il is the least certain al