Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-30

above and always with certain good effect.
J. E. BYRD, M. D.
Darlington, S. c., April IS, 1852.
PREMATURE BURIAL-The Albany Register
in the course of an article on this subject, relates
the following instance, Of which the editor wa'
perfectly cognizant:
Some years ago, we were perfectly cognizant
to an occurrance Of this kind, which was Of the
most heart-rendering character. The wife of a
gentleman was taken suddenly i'll in church, and
was carried to her home in state Of syncope.-
In few hours she partially recovered, but imme-
diately relapsed and never again showed any
signs of consciousness. She lay in this condition
nearly two days, battling tbs skill of the physi-
clans, and then, as it was thought and as there
was almost every reason to believe, died. No
sigus of breathing could be detected, the limbs
bccams rigid and cold and the eyes remained
open with the fixed and CLASSY stare Of death; but
there was no change in the color Of the skim
This was the only reason in the world for sup
posing that dissolution had not taken place.
The poor bereaved husband, almost frantic at
the loss of the young and beautiful wife who he
almost idolized, clung with desperation to the
hope limned in her face, and long resisted the
unanimous decision of the physicians, that she
was certainly dead. They told him, what is
doubtless true, that it sometimes though very
rarely, happens that there is no discoloration for
days and even weeks afrer dissolution has taken
place. But still he resisted, and it was not un-
til three days had passed without the faintest
signal of change or sign of life, that he finally
gave up and suffered the burial to take place
She was entomed in a vault. Months passed
A cemetry having been laid out the husband
purchased and beautifed a lot, erected an ele-
giant monument in it, and when all was ready,
superintended the removal of the body of his wife
from the vault to its final resisting place.
When the vault was opened he remembered
the circumstances of death, above, detailed, and
desire suddenly seized him to once more be-
hold the corpse. By his direction the coffin laid
was removed. The spectacle which presented
itself was nconceivably horrible, for it showed
that she bad been buried alive. She had tur-
ned quite over upon her side, she had clutched
her nails into the coffin until her fingers had
bled, portions of her grave cloths were torn, and
in her horrible struggles she had contrived to
carry her hand to her head and had plucked
from it mass of hair, with portions Of the cap
that covered IT,
The poor man never recovered from the shock
of that awful spectacle. He was borne away
senseless, and for the rest of his weary life was
an utterly broken and miserable being.
SATURDAY EvENINa.-Reader, do not let this
season pass without some profitable reflections
Carefully review the week, sum up the blessings
YOU have received from Father, whose provi-
dent care has kept you in life, in health and in
comfort, while others, every way your equals
and perhaps your superiors, have been prema-
turely cut of, or spared to live IN misery
Think of this think Of it with gratitude Calm
ly and carefully review the transactions OF the
week Have you habitually controlled your
temper and your tongue ! Have you been IN.
dustrious and frugalI Have you thought of
tbs noor and infirn, and the extent Of your abil'
tv to relieved them! Have you labored to
make home pleasant and attractive; have you
acquired or impaired any useful knowledge p
Have you answered any Of the great and impor
tant ends of your existence! Look these ques-
tions in the face answer them honestly and
without evasion-and your sleep will be more
quiet and your future life better than your
past.