Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-14
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING. JUNE ID, 1858
THE DEAD-HOW TO DO 1T.

A book has lately been published in Lor-
don, which goes to show the advantages
of the ancient method Of burning the dead.
The only objection its author. who is
member of tho College Of Surgeons" has
against burial is o sanitary one. He says
that lit is proved beyond all doubt, that
during the progress of that decomposition
which body undergoes when buried, the
elements Of which it is composed, before
entering into other and purer states, form
certain putrid gases Of 80 deadly nature
that their inhalation in concentrated
state has been known to cause instant
death; while in a more diluted form, they
are productive of the most serious injury
to health. These dreadful efiuvia vary
much in their yirulence, according to cir
cumstances, and there is probably one par
ticular stage of decomposition 10 which
thew attain their most fatal power"
Cburch-yard are, it is we'll known, most
pestiferous places. And we are assured
that the gases emanating from the bodies
when diluted, possess the power of 'prodC-
cling various diseases, diminishing the aver
age duration Of life, lowering the tone of
the general health, and thereby rendering
thousands more liable to be attacked by
fever, cholera. or epidemics. 1t is not be-
cause they ere no. often perceptible to the
sense Of smell that they are harmless"
How are these evils to be averted?--
Thirty.6ve millions of human beings die
every yesr--nearly four thousand every
hour. By what means shall this great mass
Of decaying substance be 90 disposed OF as
not to vitiate the air the living breathe,
and the water the living drink. The RENE
DIV our author proposes IL, as we have him
ted, that of burning. To render the idea
less revolving, he proposes plan which
seems to him without objection.
"On a gentle eminenoe, surrounded by
pleasant grounds stands convenient, we'll
ventilated chapel, with high splre or
steeple. At the entrance, where some OF
the mouruers might prefer to take leave OF
the body, are chambers for their accomo.
dation. Within the edifce are seats tor
those who follow the remains to the last;
there is also an organ and gallery for
choristers. In the centre of the chapel EN-.
bellished with appropriate emblems and
devices, is erected shrine of marble, some
what like those which cover the ashes OF
the great and mighty'in our old catbedrals
the openings being filled with prepared glass
Within this--a sufficient space intervening
is an inner shrine, covered with bright,
non-radiatipg metal. and within this again
is sarcophagus of tempered fire clay, with
one or more longitudinal Sits near the top
extending its whole length. AS soon as
the body is deposited therein, sheets OF
fame at an immensely high temperature,
rush through the long apertures from end
to end, and acting as a combination OF a
modified oxyhydrogen blowpipe, with the
reverbatory furnace, utterly and completely
consume and decompose 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 ee-
ments, instead of retarding, aid combus-
ton, as is the case of fierce confagrations.
The gaseous products Of combustion are
conveyed away by fues, and means being
adopted to consume anything like smoke,
all that is observed from the outside is oc-
casionally quivering transparent ether
floating away from the high steeple to
mingle with the atmosphere"