The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-04-08
Premature Intcrments.

-
Occasionally q case of prematur burial sends
a thrill of horror through the community, but
the lesson which 1t teaches that less haste should
be manifested in committing deceased persons
to their silent homes, does not seem TO have
been needed, and under the present custom, the
body Is hardly cold ere the undertaken is called
to perform his sad Office. The ancient Greeks
and Romans took warning from similar occur
rcnces, and forbid the early burial of the dead.
The first recorded instance of the recovery to
life of an individual about to be buried, was
that of q woman in Agrigentum, in ancient
Greece, whose funeral was arrested by Empe-
docles, man of great medical skill, and she
was restored to life After this law was pass
ed forbdding intcrmentl of deceased persons
until three dayshad elapsed. Custom extended
this period to the sixth or seventh day, during
which precautions were taken TO restore aniina-
tion, ifit was simply suspended and often with
effect. 8nssFeg th9ieGne tadi sesbNGa5 "A
The Romans also had their attention turned
to this matter in the time of Pompey, by phy-
sician, who detecced signs of life in q person
supposed to be dead. who was on funeral pyrc
which had already been lighted. The flames
were extinguished and the individual was re-
suscitatcd Aviola, another Roman, was less
fortunate Having fallen in a lethargic ct, he
was taken up for dead; his funeral pile erected,
the flames were lighted. and Aviola was placed
upon it, Quickly animation, which had only
been suspended, was revived by the heat, and
he attempted to arise. The spectators, who had
retired little to witness the spectacle, rushed
to save him, bnt they were too late. He was
killed by the flames. The prntor Lama had a
similar fate and the life Of Tubcro, who had
formerly been pr@tor, was saved by signs of a
return to life being discovered, just as he was
about being laid upon the pile.
In consequence cf these examples, the Ro-
mans increased the interval between death and
burial, and scrntniscd more closely the signs of
dissolution. Custom as well as law required
that after deceasc the nearest relative should
close the eyes Of the deceased. The body was
then bathed with warm water, for the two-fold
purpose of rendering it filter to be ahointcd
with oil, if really dead. or terminating it If the
principal Of life was merely suspended. Tests
were from time to time applied to see If death
had dtaken place, and after variety of ccremo-
mics, which were continued for seven or eight
days, the body was carried to the funeral pile
and burned in the midst Of a concourse of rcla-
tivcs and friends, who marched thrice around
the pyre, and frequently offered libations to the
gods, asking their aid quickly to consume it.
Modern instances of the recovery of people
after it was supposed death had set its seal upon
them, are numerous and one was mentioned in
the papers only a few days ago. Cases are also
recorded by physicians whcrt persons have
DcCu TCSiOICu. W COHClOuHIcfS. ny lHc pTOU-
ing ofan anatomical knife, and who rccov-
ed their health and lived for years thereafter.
One medical writer, Bruhier, in a dissertation
upon the uncertainty Of the signs of death, and
the danger of precipitate bprials, has collected
one hundred and eighty cases in which persons
still living were treated, as dead. Tifty-two of
these were actually buried alive, four were
opened before death, fifty-three revived sponta-
ncouly after being placed in their collins, and
scventy-two were supposed to have died when
they really had not. "
Such facts as these ought to induce more cau
tion in the disposition Of persons supposed TO be
deceased, than is now customary in the 'commu-
nifty. The appearance and condition OF tic
bodies should be more closely observed, and a
longer delay in burial practiced. The idea of
awakening to consciousness after burial, is a
horrid one to every mind, and the reality must
be terrible. e5 3F ea "A