Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-04-04
FFsm4ls~Wssiein Wniehuar
PREMATURE sERULTURZ--Ha l.
BT Q. >. n. cnOcKrr, y. D., LribrprT, NO.

II, was published last week instead of No. l, a,
was intended. We give No. !, therefore, in 1
slightly abridged form, a. the cases cited below
are quite suficient-ED.1
That many persons supposed to be dead hav,
been revIved, both before and after interment
RESTORED TO health, and lived for years after.
wards, is factas well established as anv claim.
ing the attention Of mankisd. The subject ad.
dresses itself, clothed with interest, 10 every
intelligent living being, and has resolved the
attention Of wise and god men in all ages. II
Is remarkable, that II has been 50 much more
Regarded by savage and barbarous tribes and ma
tons than the civilized and Christian ; and thai
IN the United States-the land Of the ciyiIly,
morally and religiously free and enlightened
less regard is had to Il, than, perhaps, in any
other part Of the world. A late writer re-
marks, that in England, in respectable families
the funeral seldom takes place til a week after
death;' during which time the coffin, containing
the body, is usually placed on center table IN
the Parlor, and the door kept locked
In order 10 approach Just conception Of ifs
importance, we must make the case our own
suppose we die-in appearance only--are has
tIly shut up in a coffin-put in vault, the door
locked-thsre TO remain unseen for months, or
years or deposited in the cold pit,-coyered
with three or four feet of earth, and in few
hours revive and become conscious Of our awful
situation, and the fact, that we can neither ex-
tricate ourselves therefrOm, nor make any sig
naI by which our friends can be informed Of
our condition Such has been the fate Of thou
sands; and similar cases are being frequently
discovered by those who diSinter the dead.
Aware Of the danger of being buried alive,
many persons have given positive instructions
IN reference 70 the disposition of their bodies
after death some directing that they should
be burned, others thsir heart taken out, SC.
The Hon. Henry LauTeas, President Of the first
Congress, U. s., ordered in his will, that his
body should be burned the third day after his
death, which was accordingly done.
At an early period in my professional career,
my attention was arrested by this most interest
ing subject, and | become strongly impressed
win The improperly, nay-the inhumanity, Of
hasty interments. In reference to myself,-I
had rather die one hundred times above GROUND. .
than once in vault, or covered up in grave.
On certain occasion when expected to die in
twenty-fOur hours, dreaded nothing but the
possibility OF reviving after being buried. Such
were my convictions aud feelings in reference
to it, that / was constrained to request nv
friendS,-in the event Of my apparent decease,
to keep my body out Of the grave as long as
practicable, --appoint no time for inierment, uD-
I'll they were sure / was dead land before in
terment, would have my chest opened and The
large artery severed from the heart.
am strongly penetrated with the belief, that
very many who are buried are conscious Of all
that occurs about them while on the cooling
board and during their interment, but are inca
pable OF the least manifestation Of their con-
sciOusneEs and feelings. No language can ex-
press the agonies which must seize a person
thus circumstanced. On the ground Of the bare
possibility Of this being true, humanity would
plead for more attention being given TO the signs
Of death, and that we be less hasty in commit
ting our friends 10 the inextricable prison
house.
propose to consider this subject.
i. In reference TO the history of some cases
of persons who have been recovered after sppar-
ent dee:h and
ii. The signs Of death, the means to be
used for the recovery of those apparently dead
'sing somewhat aiken to this subject, we are
led and may name the case Of Col. Town
England, and NJ. Bayle, physician Of
who possessed the singular faculty Of
the pulsaliOns Of the heart at will. I'M
ence of Drs. Cheyne, and Bsynard, and
inc, Col. T. remained for upwards Of
hour in voluntary abolition Of the aP-
action Of life.
e ]. The daughter Of merchant in Par
france, who was attached and engaged to a
gentleman OF moderate circumstances, was af-
forwards addressed by aman of fortune. Her
parents causing her to marry The latter, she
soon went into state Of melanchOly,-died, and
Al H. e I. IL: Al