The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-10-14
Physical Pain Of Dvf.e.


Physical Pain Of Dyfng.
The act of dying 10 technically termed "ths
agony;" bnt the pain Of dying must be dis,iu.
euished from the pain of The previous disease.
for when life ebbs. sensibility declines. AZ
death is the fnal extinciion of cotporeal feel
ing. 90 numbness increases az death comes on.
The prostrstion Of disease, like keslihfal ia
'igue, snsenders growing stupor.-a sensa.
Iioo Of subsiciug softly into coveted repose.
The transition resembles what may be seen ia
those lofty mountains, whose sides exhibit eve.
ry climate IN regular grsda,ion. eeetation lux.
n'Istes at their base and dwindes in the an
proach to The regions Of snow, till its manifest.
alton 10 repfessed by the cold The so called
agony can never be more 70 formidable than when
the b,ain is the las, to 60. and the mind brs-
serves TO the end rational cognizance Of the
state Of the body. Yet persons thus situated
commonly attest that there are few things iu
life less painful than the close. "If L had
strength enough to hold pen." said William
Hunter would wiiie how easy and delight.
fnl II 10 TO die" "lf this be dying" said the
niece Of Newton of Ouley. ait 10 q plsassnt
thing TO die" THE very expression" adds
her uncle. "which another friend Of mine
made use Of On Her death bed few wears aeo.''
The same words have ofteu been uttered uu-
der similar circumstances.
second and Common condition Of the dv-
ing 10 10 be lost TO themselves and all around
them IN utter unconsciousness. Counteuance
apd, gestures .uai9 b. i.3v yAaeruar s~of,u,nr m:
terror sensbilny still remained. But we have
the evidence of those whom disease has left at
the eleventh hour. tina, while their supposed
suferings were pited by their friends. exis.
tence was blank. Wherever there is sensi.
biliiy, virtual death precedes death ITSELF and
IN, ;s A.. IN, ssovld
The facilities survive. though averse TO even
The faintest effort, and they badly testify in
languid and broken phrases that the torpor of
the body moro than keeps pace with the inert
ness of the mind. The same report il given
by those who have advanced to the very border
Of the coun,ry from whence 90 traveller re-
turns. MoDtaiene alter his accident, passed
for corpse. and the frs, indications OF retut6-
ing life tesembled some Of the eommooest
symptoms Of death. But his owo feelings
were those Of man who is dropping into ths
sweets Of slumber, and his longing was towards
blank rest. and not for recovery. 'Methoughf,'
said he my life only hung upon my lips; and
shut my eyes TO help thrust il out, and took
pleasure in Iangushing and letting myself co.
In many of these ius'ances, as in the cases of
stupefactiop, there are appearances which we
have learned TO associate with suffering, be-
cause constantly coujoined with il. A cold
perspiration bedews the skin, the breathing is
harsh and labored. and sometimes, especially
in delicate frames. death is ushered in by con-
vusive movements which look like the wrest-
ling Of an oppressive enemy. But there are
signs Of debility and falling system. which
have no relation TO pain.
There is not any situation 10 which steady
minds and sweet dispositions evince a greater
superiority over the hasty and sensual part Of
ind. krt satf rnntxnl adan,a ;,.oIs 70 h..
ordinary exigeucies Of life. and il surprised by
evils with which il has not been accustomed
TO measure its strength, the frmest nerve and
the suuniest temper are overcome by the sud-
den violence Of the assault. Unless the un-
derslaoding is affected, itiitab,lity aud way
wardness constantly diminish when experience
has shown the wisdom and duty Of patience,
sod there soon springs up, with well ordered
minds, a generous rivalry between Submission
on the one hand. aud forbearance on the oth-
er. From the hour that sin and death entered
into the world, it was mercy that disease and
decay should enter TOO. sick room is q
school Of virtue, whether we are spectators OF
the mortality Of our dearest connections or ex-
periencing our own,
To be shot is the easiest mode Of termina-
ting life; yet rapid 40 il is, the body has leisure
TO feel and mud 10 reflect. In drowning. the
struggles ai The outset are prompted by terror,
not by pain; 10 the majority OF instances a
pleasing isnguor succeeds, without any sense
Of suffocation.
That to he frozen to death must be ffighiful
torture, tnany would consider certain from their
own experience Of the effects Of cold. But
here we fall into the usual error Of supposing
that the sufferings will increase with the ener-
gy Of the agent, which could only be the case
| il sensibiIil5 remained the Same. Intense
cold 5rings on speedy sleep, which faseiostes
the senses. and fairly besuiles them out Of
| their lives.
The most curious example Of the seductive
power OF cold is to be found in the adventures
OF the botanical party, who, in Cooks first
voyage. were caught 10 snow storm on Terra
del Fuego. DR.. Solander. by birth Swede,
and we'll acquainted with ihe destructive de-
cei's Of a rigorous climate. sdmonished the
company, in defiance Of Iassitude. TO keep mo-
wing on. 'Whoevcr,' said he 'si's down will
sleep-and whoever sleeps will perish" The
| Doctor spoke ss a sage. but he felt % man.
| In spite Of the remonstiapces Of those whom
he bad instructed and alarmed. he wac the 6rsi
10 lie down.
The Same was repss,sd thousand tirisJ'
tbs retreat from Moscow. AIisos, the ~
u fConessdd a. ksryA Psss.