The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-07-07

The celebrated report Of DR.. Chenue on
the mortality caused by war, contains some
interesting information concerning the ap-
pearances presented by some who die viol-
ent death on the field Of battle. One sur
geon says that wandering on the battle field
Of the Alma, on the third dsy after the fight,
he observed with astonishment q number Of
Russian corpses whose attitude and express
sion OF countenance were precisely those Of
life. Some did certainly present an aspect
which showed that they had suffered severe
ly just previous to dissolution, but those
were few in number compared with those
who wore q calm and resigned expression,
as though they had passed away in the act
of prayer Others had smile on their
faces as though they were in the act of
speaking one in particular attracted his
attention; he was lying partly on his side,
his knees were bent under him, his hands
were clasped together and pointing upward,
his head thrown back, and he was apparent
ly still praying-evidently he was In the act
Of doing so at the moment when death laid
his hand upon him.
Another medical man relates that after the
battle Of Inkerman, some Of the faces Of the
dead wore a smile T; while others had .
threatening expression. Some lay stretched
ON their backs, as if friendly hands had pre-
pared them for burial. Some were still rest
ing on one knee, their hands still grasping
their muskets. In some instances the ear
fridge remained between the teeth, or the
musket was held in one hand, and the other
was uplfted as though to ward off blow,
or appealing to Heaven. The faces were ali
pale as though cut in marble. As the wind
swept across the battlefield, it waved the
hair, and gave the bodies such an appearance
Of life, that a spectator could hardly help
thinking that they were about to rise to con-
tinue the fight.
Another surgeon describing the appear
ance of the corpses on the field of Magenta,
says that they furnish indubitable proof that
man may cease to exist without suffering
the least pain. Those struck In the head
generally lie with their faces on the ground,
their limbs retaining the same position they
were in at the instant they were struck, and
most of these still held their rifles; showing
that when ball enters the brain il causes
sudden contraction of the muscles that
there is not time for the hand to loose its
hold Of the weapon before death. Another
peculiarity observed in the case Of those who
were wounded in the brain, was the sudden
ness with which they died even when sus-
pected to be out of danger. During The bat
tie of Solferino, riAeman was wounded in
head by ball which passed through the
skull and buried itself in the brain. His
wound was dressed, and he was stretched
on straw, with his head resting on his KNAPP
sack, like his wounded comrades. He re-.
tanned the full use Of his faculties, and
chatted about his wound, with almost indif-
ference, as be filed his pipe and lay smok-
ling it. Nevertheless, before he had finished
it, death came upon him, and he was found
lying in the same attitude, with his pipe
still between his teeth. He had never utter
Cd cry, or gave any sign that he was suf-
fering pain.
In eases where the ball entered the heart
nearly the same Appearances were presented
as in the case Of those who had beer
struck In the brain death was what w
term instantaneous, but 1t was not quite q,
swift as In the former case there was gen.
orally time for movement in the act oI
dying. There was Zouave who had beer
struck full in the breast he was laying OF
his rife, the bayonet was fixed, anl
pointing in sach war - showed that b,
was in the act Of charging when struck
4 His head was lifted, and 6is countenanc,
bore thrsatning appearance, a. II he hat
merely stumbled and fallen, and was In th,
act OF rising again. Close by him lay ~
Austrian foot soldier, with clasped hand
and upturned eyes, who had died in Ia
act Of praying. Another foot soldier has
fallen dead - be va IN tie oct Of fighting
biz fsts ware closed, and his arm wns in II
i act Of warding Of . blow, and the othe
was drawn back in the Get Of striking.
IL On another battlefield several Frsncl