The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-09-20
PREMATURE INTRRMENTs, q THE
UNCERTAIN SIGNS oPDEATH
ny aEo. wATrsRsros.

AZ the death Of Philip Doddridge, an emi-
nent lawyer Of Virginia, who died in the city
Of Warrington, while n member Of Congress,
Il was stated a. a reason for retaining bis
body longer than usual, that con a former oc-
casion, he had narrowly escaped the melan-
choly fate Of being buried alive. lie had
ALLEN into cataleptio condition. Ills res
pirAtion had ceased his pulse no longer throl-
bed, his limbs were perfectly rioid and his
face exhibited the sharp outline of death. -
The family phyaician and friends all, with the
exception OF bis wife, believed him to be
dead.
Mrs ID, however, would not relinquish ey-
cry hope, and continued 10 apply from time
10 time, every remedy she could think OF to
restore him 10 vitality and finally succeeded
IN administering a small quantity OF brandy,
which Immediately restored him 10 life aud
the command Of his limbs. He lived many
years afterwards, and was wont 10 relate, with
deep feeling, the painful aud horrible sensa.
tons he experienced during the period he
was supposed 10 be dead. lie said that though
he was perfectly unable 10 move his finger or
give the least sign Of his being alive, he could
hear aud was conscious Of every thing that
was going on around him, lie heard the an
nounecment that be was dead. aud the lam,
entations Of his family, the directions for his
shroud aud all the usual preparations for his
burial. lie made desperate efforts TO show
that he was not dead, but in vain lac could
not move muscle, Even despair and the
immediate presence ofa fate more appalling
to humanity than any other earthly terror,
could not rouse the dormant body 10 perform
the slightest OF its functions. At last he heard
Mrs Doddridgc call for the brandy, with a de.
light aud rapture of love for her which the
horrors Of his situation may be easily explain
cd. IIo felt that he was safe. lie humorous
~ observed, "that IL was ~ little NJ brandy
could do restore him 10 life. a. Il had produc-
ed his living death" Mr. Doddridge was un-
fortunately addicted to the incorporate
use OF ardent spirits, and n ft Of intcm-
pcranco had, no doubt produced tho con
dition from which he was relieved by the
perseverance, and love OF his wife, Who ad-
ministcrod at the last moment, the powerful
siimnhni which restored him 20 life. Other
wise his fate would have been that oil many
others, who have been buried before life was
extinct
Another instance Of prevention from the
horrors of premature inicrment occurred in
this country, aud has been related by Mrs
-Childz in her Letters from New York. Il Is
nn additional proof of strong coningal alice
ton, and of the Necessity of retaining the
body where thore remains the least dosbt Of
tfIU uTT1uUrtJu 0r tffe-TTe uncfe Il Mrs
Childs was attacked in Boston with the vel
low foVcr, and considered as dead. His at
ieciionaie wife, however, did not abandon all
hope, but continued with him during his i'll
ness, contrary To the rcmonstrances sf her
friends, and persisted in refusing to allbw hi5
body 10 be takon from tho house for intcrmont
She told me- said Mrs Cblds, that she
never knew how to account for IL but dough
he was perfectly cold and rigid, and TO every
appearance quite dead thcro was n powerful
impression ON her mind that life was lot ex-
unct.
Two calls nc intervals Of half an hour bad
been made with the death-carts, to take away
the dead bodies, aud the constant cry was as
usual on such occasions, bring out the dead;
but her earnest 0ntroaties and toarP induced
them reluctantly to grant her another rospite
of' half al hegF- With trembling haste she
renewed her efforts to restore life. She rats
cd ifis head, rolled his limbs in hot flannel
and placed hot onions on his feet The dread
fnl half hour again came round and found him
as cold and rigid as ever. Again she renew
me M her entroRties so desperately that the
:" Se's N''-~" 20 think that gentle force
empscu, ven ,a ,i ssnnIred. They accordingly at
with such force and ntrengtna efallnst her will,
not easily loosen her grasp.
AT last, by dint of reasoning on the noces
s;ty Of the case, she promised that II nc uhouie
shox no signs of life before they again cam'
round, she would make no further opposition
10 removal. Having gained his respite sh'
hung the watch upon the bed-post' ana re
nhwed her efforts with double zeal ohe Plae
cd kegs Of hot water about him, forced bran
| DIV between his teeth, breathed into ms nos
,rils. and held hartshorp TO his nose but stil
| the body Law motionless aud cold. She look
ed nnxiously at the watch; in five minute
the promised half hour would expire, am
those dreadful voices would be passing hfc
the streets Hopelessness came over her sh
dropped the head she had boon sustaining
her hand trembled violently, and the hearts
horn which had been holding was spilled o
4thc r,nll;tl4rre, Accidentally, the position -o
the head had become slightly inclined back
n wards, aud the powerful liquid nowed int
the nostril Instantly there was short quIc
gasp-a struggle--his eyes opened and whe
the death men came again, they iouhu ni'
sitting up in bed. lie is still aive, ana ma
, enjoyed unusual good health.
, MANY additional cases are recorded Of pei
sons apparently dead, who have been so fol
tunate as TO escape the horrors q prelnatur
, interment. Among these is the case Of Oh
) elegant Lady Russell, that mentioned by On
, celebrated Oder Of Geneva, AMI one by ID
Crichton, plysiciaRto the Grand Duke Nicl
I olns, now Emperor Of Russia lady Russo
5 remained for the space OF seven daHsand nigh
without any sign of life, and hq burial wa
: prevented only by the violent grief Of he
: husband On the eighth day q the paris
: bells were ringing for church, Indy Russo
Z suddenly raised her head, and 4 the amaE,
mcnt and indescribable Joy OF Lord job
: Russell. told him 10 get ready I'd accompan
her TO church. Her recovery @s rapid an
a complete, and she. lived manyyears afte
Il ward, and had several children.i
; Il know girl said Oder 'twenty-h,
+ wears old, named Ellen Roy, yhS narrowl
cscanad being buried alive Sic lived at III
:, t SJystan5e ,,T two fCsVrrrs from hheBevH. y,
n some ycars she had been subject to neryo'
Al a,tncks which frequently deprived her of e.
= cry annenrapce oflfe, but a(te the lapse OF
l. ssJy bonrs she would recover aid resume h,