Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-19
Hom TIE DoAnr Nears

THE CAUSES OF SUDDEN DEATH
great many persons have serious dread Of sud
den death even some of the old liturgies have a
special petition for deliverance from it as an evil
In certain cases, it may be when the young man in
the prime Of manhood is cut down like flower from
the midst of all Gfe's hopes and schemes; when
the strong man is stricken down from beside his
bride at the altar, or the mother is snatched away
from the cradle of her babe perchance violently
from earth by the lightnings stroke or some caas-
trophe-then indeed there may be something even
peculiarly heartrending in the very suddenness of
the stroke. But where DEATH without even mo-
ments warming, comes naturally, as it came to the
late Secretary of State at the close of long
of life, industriousy and well SPENT there is often
something peculiarly fitting and even beautiful in
the very suddenness of the stroke. The pain abso
lutely nothing, death is without its sting 1t would
seem, therefore, the most perfectly natural of all
deaths, for there is disproportionate wear and
tear of one organ, but simply eeasing to live The
weary wheels of life stand STILL not from disorgani-
zation, but simply from want of any further motive
power.
The causes Of this class of sudden death are of
course various, sometimes quite mysterious. In the
case of Secretary Marcy it was supposed to be the
heart, perhaps 1t is more commonly the brain These
two between them the chief centres of the most
suddenly fatal diseases. Perhaps the case of ner
or simple apoplexy is the most remarkable of
all these. 1t gives mark of its approach, and it
leaves absolutely no trace Of disOrganizaton dis
turbance in any part of the physical framework
Not muscle or nervous centre may retain the
slightest trace of the presence the absence of any
agent noxious necessary life otherwise than is
usual 1t is simple failure of vitality, and the
anatomis feels, at the conclusion of his work. that
could the mechanism Of nature only have been kept
in motion during few seconds of respite and the
vital spark have returned to its duty, it would have
found no part Of the material frame work in the
slightest degree injured or even panied.
alta lie, L.
work of life is doue and the great work of rightly
parting with earth alone remains. Thus for instance
Mr.. Marcy was in the list year of his age; he had
served his country in war, served as Secretary of
War, and succeeded Daniel Webster as Secretary of
State, and gracefully laid aside all these duties
At such period, since death must come, there are
many advantages in quiet departure like the one
alluded to. "SOftly, suddenly and alone" was the
earnest petition of well known, in regard to his
death. In such cases the pain of parting is spared
that most terrible Of pains to many well consti-
tuted mind Rousseau wished to gaze on the setting
for the last time. And there must be something
in consciously looking ct the earth, the sky, old
and old friends for the last time of which
never conceive fully but in life, and that
once can give back record, unless it be by that
last anxious glance around.
In regard to the more immediate causes of these
sudden deaths, the too excitements or exer-
tons of public life, must greatly tend to produce
them. mere Is wear ana tear not only OF the In
teectua system, but of the heart with all its hopes
fears and anxetes upon which the cares of states
manship must tell daily. Nor is it commonly con-
sidered that the retraction from such cases and
duties may often prove as injurious as the over
pressure of them.
1t has often been remarked how fatal the Fourth
of July has been to our great men. 1t is even now
fresh in the memory of all, that Gen. Taylor could
and did better Withstand the life of Mexican cam
mai han of MI of tba
There is, there must be to every patriot, certain
excitement about that day, that in nice cases Of
disease brings the work of years to crisis and thus
carries many noble spirit to its long home.