Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-17
IFrom the New York Fmss.f
nURNLNG OF TEE Tl.An-.EEnHF 10 no II


A book has lately been published in London,
Ehich goes to show the advantages Of the ancient
method Of burning the dead The only objection
ltg author, who Is member Of the College Of Sur.
geons, has against burial is Q sanitary ore. He
says that sit is Proved beyond al doubt that dur
ing the progress Of that decomposition which body
uhdergoes chen buried the elements Of which it is
composed before entering into other and purer
states, FORM certain putrid gases Of so deadly a
Mature that their inhalation, in oonoentrated state
mas been known to cause instant death, while in a
more diluted form they are productive Of the most
serious injury to health. These dreadful e6iuvia
vary much IN their Yiruence, according to oilcum-
stances, and there is probably one particular stage
Of decomposition in which they attain their most
fata' power
Church yards are il is well known, most pestif-
erous places And We are assured that the gases
emanating from the bodies, when diluted, possess
the power Of producing various diseases dimiu-
ishing the average duration Of life. lowering the
tone Of the general health, and thereby rendering
thousands liable 20 be attacked by fever cho-
era, or epidemios. 1t is not because they are not
often Percepble to the sense Of smell that they
harmless"
How are these evils to be svertsd? Thirty-fve
millions Of human beings die every yesr-nearly
/ four thousand every hour. By what means shall
this great mass Of decaying substance be so disposed
Of not to Ttiate the air the living breathe and
the water the living drink The remedy our author
proposes IS as We have limited, that Of burning To
render the idea less revolving he proposes a plan
which seems to him without objection.
f'On gentle eminence, surrounded by pleasant
grounds stands convenient, well ventilated chapel
with high spirs steeple. At the entrance,
where some Of the mOurners might prefer to take
leave Of the body, are chambers for their accommO
dation Within the edifee are seats for those who
follow the remains 10 the last there is also
gan and gallery for ohoristers In the center Of
the chapel, embellished with appropriate embiems
and devices, is erected shrine Of marble, some
what like those which cover the ashes Of the great
and mighty in our cathedrals, the openings being
filed with prepared glass; Within this-a sufficient
space intervening-is inner shrine, covered with
bright, non radating metal, and within this again
is saroophagus Of tempered FIRE clay, with one or
more longitudinal Sits the top, extending its
whole length. As soon as the body is deposited
therein, sheets Of flame, at an immensely high tenn
perature, rush through the long aperures from end
to end, and acting es a combination Of a modified
oxyhydrOgen bloW-pipe with the reyerba!0ry fur
mace, utterly and completely consume and deoon-
pose the body in an incredibly short space Of time
Even The large quantity Of water it contains is de-
composed by the extreme heat and its elements,
instead Of Tetarding, aid combustion is the case
Of fierce CONGREGATIONS. The gaseous products Of
combustion are conveyed away by iues, and means
being adopted to consume anything like smoke, all
that Is observed from the outside is occasionally
quiYering transparent ether floating away from the
high steeple to mingle with the atmosphere"