Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-04-29

whose proceedings have, Of course, been pre-.
served. The evidence thus obtained, was at
the time thought to confirm the prevailing su-
perstition beyond cavil but to the more enlight-
ened enquirer Of the present day, it has differ
ent and melancholy significance, for in the
bodies found in the "vampyre state" after
having been under ground for days, weeks.
and even months, no recognizes few, of an
untold number of victims of ignorance, who
have been buried alive. In some cases the bod
les have been found to have shifted their posi-
ton; in others, an entire absence of decompo.
sition has been accompanied by slight flush
on the cheeks in others again, motion has
been perceptble. But The popular feeling at
the period referred 10 regarded all such signa
with adherence and means were promptly
used (such as decapitI tIlion) 10 render the YAM
pyre" harmless, bes , zarseslng aim to the
earth.
Dr. Mayo observes, that the danger of being
buried alive is comparatively less in England
land it might no doubt be added, in the United
States) where the mode Of proceeding is more
deliberate, than on the European continent,
where but short interval is permitted be-
tween the supposed death and the burial
"Still," he says, "socety is not sufficiently on
= its guard against contingency SO dreadful
"The danger also exists to no nconsiderable
d" "degree of being opened alive by Jealous
I" coroner"
"When," he says elsewhere, "the nurse or
: the doctor has announced that all is over-that
"all is over--that the valued friend or relative
has breathed his last, no doubt crosses any
ones mind of the reality Of the sad event.
" y y n The aity, if not the doctors too, con-
stantly lose sight of the fact that there exists
" an alternative to the fatal event Of ordinary
"dsease; that patient Is liable at any period
" Of illness to devate, OF, as it were, to slide into
" another, and deceptive route instead of death
''tO encounter apparent deSh."
When it is considered that the number of ca
ses OF premature lnterme0t on record, Of neces-
sity form but fractional part Of an incacrlable
number, and that the ignorance which, in the
palmy days of Vampires" consigned persons,
still living, to the grave still continues, few
will be inclined to reject DR.. Mayo's counsel in
the matter: The body should be kept in
warm room, for the double purpose of pro-
noting decomposition If it be dead, and of
preserving the vital spark il it still linger; and
" and it should be constantly watched. There
are' OF course" he adds, "many cases in which
such care is positively unnecessary. Such,
ior instance, as death following great LESSONS of
vital organs, and in the. great majority of ca
"ses OF seeming death, tbs bafe possibility of
the persistence of life 4Ardiy remains; still,
% 0efter TO err on tks san sde."
Many years sxs, SD No.. - ~. .-sssr. on
recovering FROM an attack or yeilow fever, at
Surinam, fell into Iranc such az Dr.. Mayo
has described, and lay for Va days without any
external sign OF lifebut not @CthoM consciousness
He was laid out for burial, and was only saved
from most horrible fate by the affection or eau
ton Of an attendant, who pleaded for delay un-
til decomposition should Get in. He himself
overheard, while in this state of helplessness,
part of the conversation which was to determine
the disposal Of his body and in after years
could never allude to the subject without emo
ton.
1t would be easy to multiply examples and to
point their moral at greater length but enough
has been said to call attention to a subject
which claims the serious consideration of all.
Yours, respectfully, II. w. II.