Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-06-15
For the En1airer
PREMATURE INTERVIEWS.

of .Sinerlur Circumstance" describes unusual :.
oearances The face OF corpse during the performance
ceremonies 1t states that ush Of crimson oysl
nsad tbe cadavcrous features while the forehead becsr
moist with what appeared 10 De PRESENTATION Inc p'crer
mos were in consequence suspended Tor the purpose
having the body examined by physicians, Oh whose epo
was finally committed 10 The ground
Ills not my intention u question the verdict OF Inc nec
"a. gentlemen in this particular case; most !lIcy wa
,efrv sound one; that is say the body 'eten f6sg
rmea L. may been lecss, but the previous spPe.'
rrss recn 90 many well authenticated stories oil premau.
ntrrment owing state Of trance having Been ls'ak.c
for DEATH lt word or Two on tc geHetai spJee' 4I H
he deemed inappropriate.
While contemplating this letter the following paragraph
in New York paper Of the 10Th February last accidents:
ly caught my eye
Tho wife of a npsey named fissan wac being INFERRED
The cemetery that city, no!sc was head 10 proceed o
hn coffin which Immediately opened Alter some re-
s,oryes had been administered 10 the supposed dead w.
she soon recovered sufficiently 10 retuTn 20 her nome
The foregoing will be recognized as but one OF many IKE &c
coun,s which are published from time 10 sinie excite a
wonder ard are then quietly referred TO the CHAPTER 81 a.
scruabc events which suggest Caution and aord no ~
strucon Few indeed, cut OF The pale o. the Medical PIE
know anything Of the state called trance except !"
pnm, and IN intimate acquaintance with lis ihen0ntns
n n,ctispo.inu causes is by means II We may cree!
nm rmaec medical authority, common IN the profession IL
self When, therefore, Instances IKE 'ie one above fUoS
nrn narrated il se.om occns 10 any oe 10 coasde' n
urssbi;ly thai lie Or his ridS may in tif own person.
furnish materials Tor u new tnis OF w0"Ge!
Dr Hcrrcf, Mnyu an eminent English physician Il
work "Un the Truths contained III fopuia ouPtts'H'
gives very lucid OF The various known forms
trance and ol the caises which produce them VI Ia:
form which chiefly concerns Tie purpose 81 'f' letter. Z
says: - 49,. I,,...
Sent; the Breathing 10 suspended the cody Is mo'i1ne
rot the slightest outward III stusollty or ccEst0t
ness can detected III: temperature OF the BODY tale
the eniranccd person has lG appearance 81 corpse "r
which life has recently departed The o:ais arc conmon'
relaxed and The whole iian" i,ta; "; II IL as> lsei
rha, s9asnG: ,ieitty viii % NJ an occas:tni l:laci
hi ts,r- tho
| Whether lie be s; present, Is - %a the event"
AIN England Gays DR.. Mayo inihef "n ,!G:'a: se ~;
crdro,ic Of cholera, sovtrd Custs ~ dcat-t!!..g "c'
n which the patient whca tie pIin. u He'ug hii j 0f
uni alg wake Ia ;lIyc be saved. Deah5aacc 20
1ao!e Is much frequently produced hy spasnoc INC
in.s. ihan BY tal rlGsrs- has o!io" &c Ever
It has frequently attended pertultion.
instances III premature ouTia are given IN Q!
Dr. Mayos book where :c discusses the superstition Of
Tam2ytisn' once prevalent throughout Europe ard ,i
surviving in the Eastern parts Of that Continent Inc
"Vampirun was corasc which, re;anlng unnatG',l 81.
taIy, preserved itself from decomposition by scSo1 toe
blood of The living, for which purpose 1t nightly iocs
grave. The fears enenndcred this horrible belief - d.
ring The 18th and earl. in tie lSh centuries, 10 cqnn:e
am!na,ions OF burial IronrCs by the local auihot
The records Of these which ng
confirm the Prevailing superstition b"yGrj dn"e ''e
melancholy s,i!ratc 70! ~" -nii:'r MI Z.
uircr win in the bodies fJlrd 'in n. v,myyrc STAT. 4.
c: @e!n. under groun ~ periods raryic. :n several ~
10 several weeks or months recognizes few u! an Gad.
number vi victims II ignorance VINO have On buried ave
liz INSTANCES the cOschas been found ~ have cliaE
lis position IN "hcs, singular absence %! signs OF dee5r
position has been observed in connection wiih tnshn
Il the clerks in others aQan, CGtGn has been clearly Irf
cCYc!. But the popular feeling az The period referred
regarded sGcl signs with adherence, and reans w'
promptly Gscd snch IS .'cafi:aon) . render c Ednl'
&c" harmless. h,!O:c restoring him 10 Tie earth
d! Mayo observes, thar tie DANCE, Of being buried Civ
/. comparatively less in Eng!GGa whs;: tie 'notc OF pr"
cecdn- is deliberate nn lie continent Were ht
short interval IS allowed between cea,h ard bHriai SUI
h: says '.occty sufficiently is gGac asr.r.t
contingency I:c4sfu!; aud again, "wlcn III: nurse 0
the doci has annuGncet tia; ali - that u: rsc
friend relative has 5r,hct his last DOUBT en-
nrca nd Of the reality .! thu sad event. The .v, n'
the GOcturs too constantly lose sight Of III. fact that !he
exists alternative - Tie .i;1 cent OF rnay is.i1
that patient is liable, my PERU! Of acss, - ceta'
ns il we:e slide vi. ircn the customary nr Of ds"'s'
into another and deceptive rGutc instead Of isI 10 f
counter apparent dcu.hh
When lis possibility is fairly considered few wil feel e
clired 10 question the Suun;ncsS Of Dr. Mayos h:sct-
Thc body, he Observes "&houli BE- kept il warm room
for tho double pGfpoSa ui Promoting tcc"nH 1on i
dead aud Of preserving in it the vital s3art still 'n..'
and il shcmd be constantly watched "rIere % con
he adds many gases in which suc is positively una
ccsaary death io"n. great icsons Of vial o!gar- anu
10 The great majority Of cases Of seeming ccah ne o'
possibility o! tie persistence Of life hardly rena.ni -"
It is letter 10 the right side"
Many years ago, he ia!i.rr Uf the writer ccova'h.
from attack Of yellow fever al Sufinam fell into t!incs
such as Dr. Mayo nas described and lag Tor Ten days "I
exhibiting any sign %! life bt not tehsu consciousness ne
was laid oGt for burial after THIS ea;s suneiTens -
was only aavcd from most hoe!e fate BY The caG;9n y
affection Of attendant who pleaded FOR delay UNI" T.
composition should rel In. He, himself, overheard p-!o
the conversation which 10 determine his fate. "h'
wholly incapable Of the slightest movement and IL a'a
years could ande 10 The subject without emo'i1a
1t would be casy adduce other examples and 70 p"h
their moral great length; but enough perhaps has .esH
said awaken wholesome attention 10 the subject
T. ". H.