Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-12-02

efforts 10 break through the dull earth and
burst into the free air of heaven, and the
Imagining causes the blood to curdle and
chill in horror. The very possibility Of
such fate haunts many people like a
! spectre, and invests death with a fright
funess it would not otherwise possess.
One of the most curious cases Of this
genius which has ever been recorded, has
just occurred at Hyde Park, near this
city-a case which has almost bafIled the
skill of physicians of known ability and
high repute. During Wednesday night
last, Alex. Mcleod, u young man of II
or IL years of age, residing with, and the
sole support of an aged grandmother, was
attacked with severe fits of vomiting and
purging. lie did not, however, appear to
be dangerously ILL., and told his relative,
who was aroused from her bed, to return
to her room, or she would make herself
sick. The old lady did so, and, finding
that her grandson soon became quiet,
went to sleep, and thought no more of the
occurrence until morning, when, on en-
tering his room, she was Mortified at
iiuding him dead. Those who assisted to
prepare the corpse for burial noticed that
the flesh was remarkably piable and un-
deathllke, the eyes remained naturally
closed, the features had not the rigidity
OF death, nor had the face lost its natural
freshness. These circumstances aroused
the attention of the friends, and DR..
Bogue, of this city, was summoned to give
his opinion regarding the death of the
youth. After an investigation, he affirmed
that life had certainly departed, and that
the patient had died of cholera morbus.
On the strength of this decision, an
inquest was held upon the remains, and
verdict of "died by natural causes" re.
turned. The body was then placed in
collin, and the funeral ordered for the next
day. On Friday, however, blood COM
menced to flow rather freely from the nose
and the burial was deferred until Sunday
afternoon. In the interim, the corpse was
closely watched, but still the features re-.
tanned there life-like pliability. On Sun
day morning funeral service was
preached in the church, by Rev. S. S.
Smith, OF Cleaverville, who, in the after
noon, was invited to ofiiciate at the
burial services, but when the time for the |
funeral arrived, the friends still declined |
to take the responsibility of burying the
body, and 1t was left uninterred. Yes
terday evening number of physicians
left the city for the purpose ofthoroughly
investigating the body, and in our next
issue we will be able to give the result of
their deliberations. The body is described
as presenting the appearance of resting
in natural sleep-the eyes are not sunk,
nor have the features set. There is no
Heath like smell proceeding from the body
and the blood appears to still be retained
in the veins. If death has really ensued.
this is one Of the most extraordinary cases
which has ever been noticed, and will
we'll repay medical investigation. Mcleod
vas a young man of full forid habit. He
lad been member of the l34th Illinois
hundred day. Infantry, and for some
months previous to being mustered ont Of
he service had been in delicate health.-
Still no serious consequences were antici.
,ated, and the day previous to his death,
death it is, he was in usual health and
pirts.- .--BOston Post 28M.