Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-07-09
From the York York Pos.
nurnlng the Doad-IIow to no rs.

A book has lately been pubhshcd IN Lon
don which seeks TO show the advantages of
the ancient method Of burning the dead.---
The only objection its author, who is "mem-
Der of the College of Surgeons" finds
against burial is sanitary ono. Ho says
that it "is proved beyond all doubt, that
during the progress of that decomposition
which body undergoes whom buried, the ell
ements Of which it is composed, before enter
ing into other and purcr states, form certain
putrid gases of SO deadly nature, that their
| inhalation in concentrated state has baen
known to cause instant death; while in
moro diluted form, they are productive Of
the most serious injury to health. These
dreadful effiuvia vary much in their viru-
lenco, according - circumstances; and there
is probably one particular state Of dccom-
position in which they attain thor most IA
tai power
Church yards arc, it Is VOL known, most
pestifcrous places. And VIC are assured
that tho gasos emanating from tho bodies
when diluted possess the power Of produ-
cling various diseases, diminishing the aver
ago duration of life, lowering the tons Of
tho general health, and thereby rendering
thousands moro liable to bo attacked by To-
yor, cholera, or other epidemics. Il is not
because that they are imporcoptible TO the
sonsc of smell, that they arc harmless-r
4 "How are these evils 70 be avertsd r.
Thirty-fvo millions of human beings die
every year--nearly four thousand every
hour. BY what means shall this great mass
of decaying substances DO so disposed Of a.
not to vitiato the air the living breathe, and
the water the living drink. The remedy
our author proposes, is rs we have limited.
: that of burning. To render the idea less
! revolving, hc proposes plan which seems
= tohim without objection.
"0u gentle eminence, surrounded by
pleasant grounds, stands convenient, we'll
ventilated chapel, with high spire or stee
t pie. Attic entrance, where some of the
: mourncrs might prefer to take leave Of tbs
4 body, are chambers for their accommoda-
. ton within the ediice are seats for those
who follow the remains to tho last there il
}, also an organ and gallery for choristers.--
S In the center of the chapel, embellishei
o with appropriate emblems and devices, il
/. crectod shrine Of marble, somewhat liks
: those which cover the ashes Of the grea
J. aud mighty in our old cathcdrals, the open
,, ings being filed with prepared glass;
It Within this--a sufficient space intervenin,
a lis an inner shrine, covered with bright
non.radiating metal, and within this agail
q is covered sarcophagus Of tempercd.fira
P Cay, with one or moro longitudinal slit
a near the tor, extending los whole length.--
Il As soon as the body is deposited thereto
!, sheets of fame nj M immensely high tenn
= pcrature, rush through the long aperture
n from end TO end ;.and acting as combins
,r ton of modified hydrogen blow pipe, witt
a the reverbatory furnace. utterly and com
! pleioly consume and decompose the body i
!, = an incredibly short space Of time; evon tn
! largo quantity of water it contains Is dc
y composed by the extreme heat, and its el.
1t ments instead of retarding, aid combustio,
j as is the case in fierce confagrations. Th
gaseous products Of coinbustisn are couyc,
y ed away by aues. and means being adopts
10 to consume anything like smoke, All thi
D, is observed from outside Is occasionally
~ quiveriugs transparent sther floating ava
!. from the high steeple to mingIc with III
= atmosphere.