Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-02-25

The Prevention of Premature Burials
was pleased to read the case presented in
late number Of the Observer intended to war;
the public against too hasty scpultnrc, and re
nret that the writer does not give his name
and also the name of the author from whom HI
auotes relative to the custom which to som'
extent obtains in Germany Of depositing tn,
corpse for some time in hall attached to the
cemetery under the watchlul care of "vigian
inspectors" who visit it, might and day
hourly and especially if the truth can esub-
saniated that not year passes without in
stances of revival from supposed death occur
ring; as such statements need the best posi-
hle testimony in order to gain the public Gre
dence, a circumstance necessary in order ia
awaken proper attention TO the subject
The danger of premature burial is a subject
that has engaged somewhat Of my attention
during many years, aud at recent meeting OF
the citizens Of S., for the purpose of making
arrangements TO lay out public cemetery,
closed ain address to them with the following
observations, which, il you should think would
he profitable and interesting TO the numerous
vice.
g But more important duty deyolves upon
the living than the mere burial of the dead, and
much IA we esteem that decent respect for their
remains which both nations have manifested,
through all time yet it is virtue, or duty,
which sinks into insignifcance, when compared
with that of ascertaining that death has actu-
~ ss.ls ,,tl ~ I,ac. Z.
humaton Mistakes with regard to this fact,
though not probably frequent, may, undoubt-
eddy do, occasionally occur and the conviction
that such may happen ought to awaken the
most active scrutiny on the part of those upon
whom the responsibility of each case rests
The idea of having consciousness restored, after
burial is too terrible to dwell upon, and allwill
at once acknowledge that every means should
be employed to avoid such mistake.
"The burial of the dead should not be hur-
ried, and where there exists the least possible
doubt, no sacrifice of convenience, no danger,
or supposed danger, from contagion, even dn-
ring times of pestilencc, should excuse haste
and in ordinary times, when the public mind is
quiet, there is not a shadow of an apology for
not requiring the most decisive evidence that
the vital spark had fed.
nIncipient putreiacation constitutes the most
certain evidence of death, but as this requires
more time 10 advance sufficiently to become
perceptbe under favorable circumstances, than
il customary TO keep the body, and as most OF
mankind dread to see this first appearance Of
that decay by the process of which the physi-
cal man is destined to return TO mother earth,
il is certainly desirable that some other equally
infallible test may be discovered. With our
present knowledge, however, no single circum-
stance possesses this necessary unequivocal
certainty not that other circumstances, when
they really exist, are less warning evidences of
death, but the difficulty consists in determining
their existence. Transportation is function
most necessary to life, and its absolute cessa-
ton can be tolerated but few minutes without
life becoming extinct, yet in states of great ex-
haustion, it may become so feeble and slow ms
not to excite the notice of the casual observer
Various methods have accordingly been propo-
sed, with view to ascertain where the least
amount exists; as that of placing down or other
light substances near the nostrils or mouth !
putting vessel of water on the chest MS an in
dex of motion, in that cavity holding mirror
before the mouth in order to condense any
yapor of the breath. But these tests are all
liable to folly motion of down, or of water in
the vessel, being likely to arise IRON currents OF
air. or other undiscovered movements or agita-
tions in the room, while vapor frequently arises
from the surface of the body, and would be
likely to condense on the glass; SO that no GER
tainty attaches to these popular methods. In
deed, little If any dependence can be placed on
them, while the careful observation of the
practsed eve on the naked chest and abdomen
can rarely be deceived
"The absence of the circulation constitutes
another infallble criterion yet here, as before,
the ordinary observer is at loss, il not more,
than with regard to respiration. The pulse at
all discoverable points, and even at the hearts
motion, may become imperceptible to the I'M
haur hnr ms M
hours without the extinction Of life. Indeed,
in the case of the celebrated John Hunter, all
perceptibe motion of the heart, during three
quarters of an hour, ceased, while sensation
and voluntary motion continued to resprc by
voluntary effort, with a view of keeping himself
alive. In the stethescope however, we pos
scss an instrument of great value in detecting
the sounds produced by the motions of respira-
ton and circulation, and its use should be re
quired in all cases Of the least doubt. The
temperature of the body has also been consid-
cred most important test, in this interesting
question. Indeed, among the changes OF mod
ern times it has been proposed by some to
barter the Scripture synonyme for lifc-the
hreath-for that of heat; and we have accord
ingly been grayely told that heat is liie and
cold is DEATH and yet as proposed guide
with regard 70 the existence of life or its cessa-
ton, temperature has been found extremely fall
lacious The sensation which we call cold is
indefinite, and the temperature which we
associate with the dead body depends upon
so many circumstances that it constitutes
very imperfect guide The age of the person,
the habit Of body, whether fat or lean, the di-
sease with which he died, all constitute modi-
Tying circumstances, and render the test oil
temperature the most uncertain of any prcpo-
sed Young persons retain their heat much
longer than old fat than lean, while the former
pHtrefy much sooner; and il has long been
known, TINT those who die of apopexy, or Of
sun-strokc, continue warm for a long time
Orila found, in cases of asphyxia from any
other cause than drowning, the heat frequently
remained undiminished twelve hours aftei
death; and the speedyyctims of the plague are
also said to retain their heat much longer thar
those who die of ordinary disease.
On the other hand there are many diseases
accompanied with great loss of animal heat
even where recovery is not despaired OF. Suci
is the case in ordinary syncope, and in som'
cases of hysteria; and in the more alarming
eases of collapse We often find denth-lk'
rlldnes7 of the whole surface, while the indi
lidnal not only retains his consciousness bu
is sometimes capable of sitting up and walking
about the room. Gases of this kind were FIRE
quent during the prevalence of malignan
cholera in this country and Europe; and ! hav
seen such instances in those fearful cases Q
collapse which sometmesArise during the pro
aress of Inflammation of the bowels.
'Another sign Of death, and one upon whic
great reliance is placed, Is the stitiening or n
4 n Il. III Col n lisa