The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-13
MEcKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLYN
PREMATURE 1NrERMENrs.

10 lne premature DuFidl oI d pfoHiinenI Clti-
zen of New York, which gained currency
few days since, has awakened a painful in
terest in the subject throughout the whole
community. That it is possible for an in
dividual to possess all the semblance "f
death, aud yet to be ia life, is sustained by
too many authorities to admit of doubt.
The first recorded instance of the recov-
cry to life of an individual about to be buried,
was that of woman of Agrigentum, in an
cient Greece, whose funeral cortege was ar
rested by E'npedocles, a man of great med
awakened again to life. This instance
gave rise to "a greater precaution in regard
to burials than had heretofore obtained.
and law was passed forbidding any indi-
vidual's interment before the third day
Custom extended this period to the sixth
and often to the seventh day, during which
precautions were taken to restore anima-
ton, if it was simply suspended, often with
effect.
The Romans, like the Greeks. paid but
slight attention in their earliest years to
funeral rites. and were taught by similar
lessons the necessity of observing greater
precaution Asclepiades, a physician who
lived in the time of Pompey, about one hum
dred and twenty years before the Christian
era, on one occasion, returned from his
country seat, observed near the walls of
Rome, crowd of people attending a funer-
al The funeral pyre was already lighted
as he approached, for it was the custom of
the Romans to consume the bodies of the
dead. Thinking he perceived signs of life,
he ordered the famebeaux to be removed
and the fire extinguished. A murmur of
discomfort arose among the bystanders,
which was quieted by the friends, who, at
the earnest request of the physician, con-
cluded to defer the obsequies, and the per-
son was restored to life.
Acillus Aviola was not SO fortunate.-
Having fallen in a lethargic fit, he was talk
en- up as dead; his funeral pile was erected,
the flame was lighted, and Avola was
placed upon it, and the attendants retired
to short distance to mark the progress of
destruction. At this instant animation,
which had only been suspended was reviv-
ed by the heat of the flames, and he made
an attempt to rise. The spectators ran tc
rescue him, but their assistance came too
late-he was killed by the flames. The
Prator Lamia had a similar fate; and the
life of Tubero, who had formerly been Pra
tor, was saved by discovering signs of a
return to life just as he was about to be LAID
upon the pile.
These circumstances led the Romans, like
the Greeks. to defer to a longer time the
period of interment, and TO exercise more
caution in Distinguishing apparent from alb
solute death. Custom as we'll as law requir-
ed that after decease the nearest relative
should close the eyes of the deceased. The
body was then bathed with warm water,
with the twofold purpose of rendering it fit
ter to be anointed with oil, if really dead
ar re- -animating it if the principle of life was
merely suspended and still retained posses
sion of its tenement. Tests were from time
to time applied. to see if death had taken
place, and after variety of ceremonies,
which were continued for seven or eight
days, during which the body was enveloped
in the gums of myrrh and cedar, bitumen
and other like substances, and surrounded
by lighted tapers and burning perfumes, the
body was carried to the funeral pile and
burned in the midst Of concourse of rela-
tives and friends, who marched twice around
the pyre, and frequently offered libations to
the gods, asking their aid quickly to con-
sumo it. In this manner we find Achilles at
the funeral Of Patroclus, asking the north
and west winds to aid the fire in its work
of destruction:
"But fast beside, Achilles stood in prayer:
Invoked the gods whose spirit move the air;
And victims promised, and libations cast,
To gentle Zephyr and the Boreal blast"
This practice of cremation gradually gave
place to the custom of inlumation, which
now prevails. 1tis supposed that this change,
which was effected about the time of the
Antunies, is due to the introduction of Chris
tianity, and was doubtless suggested by the
practice of the Jews and the example of the
burial of Jesus Christ. The burial cere-
mony among the early Christians was al
ways in the night. in order to avoid insult
from the hedthens. This practice is still
prevalent in Italy and in England, and in
some other countries, in the case of the bu-
rial of one of the royal family.
1t is questionable whether modern civili-
zation has much advanced in the rites of
burial. or the means necessary TO prevent
premature interment. The practice now is,
as soon as there is semblance of death, for
the relatives and medical attendants to de-
sert the chamber, whose management is
committed to unsympathizing nurses. The
first care of the attendants is to expose the
body to the cold air, by which means any
latent spark of life which may be still lin
gering, is almost certain either to be extin-
guished or so benumbed that its unhappy