The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-11-30
Premature Interments.

We lately saw paragraph stating that
gentleman of Boston, Just before his
death, which occurred a short time since,
made a last request that bis remains should
be examined daily for a r OF ten days,
in order to make sure OF the tact that
life had really departed, he having fear
of being buried alive.
Occasionally case of premature burial
sends a thrill of horror through the com
munity but the lessons which it teaches,
that less haste should be manifested in con-
uniting deceased persons to their silent
homes, is not always needed, and in some
instance, the body is hardly cold ere the
undertaken is called to perform his sad
Office. The ancient Greeks and Romans
took warning from similar occurrences, and
prohibited the early burial of the dead =
The frs. recorded instance of the recoverv
to life Of an individual about to be buried,
was that of woman in Agrigentum, in
ancient Greece, whose funeral was arrest
ed by Empedocies, man of great medi-
cal skill, AID she was restored to life
After this law was passed forbildirg
interment Of deceased persons until three
days had elapsed. Custom extended this
period to the sixth or seventh day, during
which precautions were aiken to restore
animation, if it was simply suspended, and
once with effect.
The Romans also hal their a'tenti n
tnrned to this matter in the time of pom~
pey, BY physician, who detected signs of
life in a person supposed to be dead, who
was on funeral pyre which had already
been lighted. The flames were extinyuish-
ed and The individual was resusctated =
Aviola, another Roman, was less fortunate.
Having fallen in a lethargic fit, lie was
taken up for dead, his funeral pile was
erected, the flames were lighted, and Avioa
was placed upon it. Quickly animation,
which had only been suspended, was reviv-
ed by the heat, and he attempted to arise.
The spectators, who had retired to witness
the spectacle, rushed to save him, but
they were too late. lie was killed by the
flames The pretor Lamia had a similar
fate and the life of Tubero, who had
formerly been prietor, was saved by signs
of return to animation being discovered,
just as he was about to he laid upon the
pile.
In consequence of these examples, the
| Romans increased the interval between
death and burial, and scru.inisel more
closely the signs of dissolution. Custom
as we'll as law required that after decease
the nearest relative should close the ewes
Of the deceased. The body was then bath
ed with warm water, with the two fold
purpose of rendening it filter to be anoint-
ed with oil, if really dead, or terminating
it if the princip pie WAS merely suspended.
Tests were from time to time applied to
see if death had taken place, and after a
variety of ceremonies, which continued for
seven or eight days, the body Nas carried
to the funeral pile and burned in the midst
of a concourse of relatives and friends,
who marched thrice around the pyre, and
frequently offered libations to their gods,
asking their aid quickly to consume it.
! Modern instances of the recovery of
people after it was supposed to be dead
had set its seal upon them, are numerous,
and one was mentioned in the papers only
a few months ago. Cases are uIso record
ed by physicians where persons have been
/
of the anatomical knife, and who recovered
their health and lived for years thereafter
One medical writer, Bruhier,in disserta-
ton upon the uncertainty OF the signs OF
death and danger of precipitate burals,
has collected one hundred and eighty cases
in which persons still living were treated
as dead. Fiftytwo Of these were acctna
Iy buried alive, four were opened before
death, fifty three revived spontaneously
after being placed in their coffins. aud
seventy-two were supposed 10 have died
when they really had not.
Such facts as these ought to induce the
most caution in the disposal of persons
supposed to be deceased. Theappearance
and condition of the bodies should be
closely observed, and long delay in burial
practiced. The idea of awakening to con
sciousness after burial, is horrid one
ID every mind, and the reality must be
terrible.