The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-06
BURNING THE DEAD---HOW TO DO 1T.
From the n. J.. Erening Post.

A book has lately been published in London,
which seeks to show the advantages of the ancient
method of burning the dead. The only objection
its author, who is 'mcmber of the College of
Surgeons" finds against burial, is sanitary one.
He says that sit is proved beyond all doubt that
during the progress of that decomposition which
body undereoes when buried, the elements of
which it is composed, before entering into other
and purer states, form certain putrid gases of so
deadly nature, that their inhalation in concen-
traed state, has been known to instant DEATH
while in a more diluted form they are productive
of the most serious injury to health. These dread
full ef1uvia vary very much in their virulence,
cording to circumstances; and there is probably one
particular stage of decomposition in which they
attain their most fatal power"
Churchyards are, it is we'll known, most pcstifer-
Gus places. And we are assured that the gases
emanating from the bodies when diluted, possess
the power of ''producing various diseases dimn-
ishing the average duration of life, lowering the
tone of general health, and thereby rendering
thousands more liable to be attacked by fever, cho-
cra, other epidcmics. 1t is not because they
are often imperccptblc to the of smell, that
they are harmless"
How are the evils to be averted? Thirty five
millions of human beings die every year-nearly
four thousand every hour BY what means shall
this great mass of decaying substance be dis
posed of as not to vitate the air the living breathe,
and the water the living drink The remedy our
author proposes is we have limited, that of burn
ing. 70 render this idea less revolving, he pro-
poses plan which seems to him without objection:
Con gentle eminence, surrounded by pleasant
grounds, stands convenient, we'll ventilated chap
ell, with high spire or 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 edifce are seats for those who
follow the remains to the last; there is also
gan and gallery for choristers. In the centre OF
the chapel embellished with appropriate e,idence
and devices, is erected 4 shrine of marble, some
what like those which cover the ashes Of the great
and mighty in old cathedrals the openings
being filled with prepared glass. Within this-a
sufficient space intcrvenng-is an inner shrine,
covered with bri eht, non-radiating metal, and
within this again is covered sarcophagus of tenn
percd ire-clay, with more longitudinal Sits
near the top extending its whole length. AS
soon as the body is therein, sheets of fame at an
immensely high temperature rush through the
long apertures from end to end ; and acting as a
combination Of modified oxydrogcn blowppc,
wlIh the rcverberatory furnace, utterly and COM
plctely consume and dccompose the body in an in
crediby short space of time even the large guam
tity of water it contains is decomposed by the ex-
treme heat and its elements, instead of rctarding,
aid combustion, rs is the case in fierce confagra-
tions. The gaseous products Of combustion are
conveyed away by fucs, and means being adopted
to consume anything like smoke, all that is Oh
served from the outside is occasionally a culver
ing transparent ether floating away from the high
steeple to nlingle with the atmospheric