The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-04-27
PERILS OF PREMATURE BUR
IALS

PER1LS OF PREMATURE BUR
IALS.
By alexander Wilder, NJ. D., in the "Ecectric"
We remember wildly the horror pro-
duced, while yet in our boyhood, when
an elder sister read from the Utica OBJ
server a story entitled Buried Alive"
The person had fallen into cataleptic
condition, becoming cold and rigid while
yet conscious, and was duly eofined and
buried. He was ezhumed by res
urrectionists," carried to a medical col
iege, and placed on the table of the de-
monstator of anatomy few shocks of
the galvanic battery partially aroused
him, and on the wounding of bis breast
by the knife, he gave signs of life, and
by proper treatment he was fully resus-
oitated. Ten or II years afterward a
relative, where we were visiting, told US
of having been present when the BODY
OF her son-in-law was made ready for the
coffin, and perceiving, as she imagined,
a warm spot on his left breast, daugh-
ter who was sitting by as this was told.
cried out with horror, ''Do not talk anv
more of It; the idea is too dreadful to
think OF" But we did think over and
over again of the horror OF interring a
living person. It was hardly probable,
IN the case in question, that such thing
did occur, for the body remained unbur-
led long enough 30 allow return to con-
seriousness. But in this country the peril
OF lnterment, before death has actually
taken place, is often very great. For
years past it has been very common for
persons in supposed health to fall down
suddenly. with every appearance of hay
ing died. We do not regard sudden
death with horror, as it is often painless,
and exempts the person from the anxiety
ana other unpleasant experiences which
so often accompany a lingering dissolu-
ton. But there is fearful liability of
being Frustrated by catalepsy-
THE COUNTERFEIT OF DEATH
under such circumstances that the per-
sons having the body in charge will not
hesitate about a prompt burial. We
could wish that the old Oriental prac.
tlce OF cremation was in fashion among
us. There would be at least the COM
Portable reflection of no suffocation in a
coffin; besides, the application of fire
would generally arouse the cataleptic
person to a manifestation of life. Some
Two years ago story was copied into
the Rochester Democrat, purportine to
be the experience of a man in low state
OF health, who was compelled to seek
shelter in deserted house in Illinois,
where be fell asleep. lie was found
there In cataleptic trance, and suppos
ed to have died. In this condition he
was removed and prepared for burial.
conscious all the time of what was going
on, but unable to utter a sound or make
sign of life. His condition was fortu-
nately discovered before it was too late
The story may be fiction, but it did
not read ike one. We have several
times repeated the story, although it is
too serious for a jest, except when re-
garded entirely on the ludicrous side. of
a Toman who, while borne to the place
OF lnterment, was aroused to conscious
ness by the jostling of her coffin against
the walls ola house, as the bearers cIum-
silly turned the corner. She was speedi.
~ released from her cerements and con-
Veyed home, where she lived several
years longer. She fell into decline and
died; the funeral again took place and
the procession set out for the grave. As
1t drew near to the house at the corner.
the husband wiped his eyes hastily, and
cried out to the bearers.
BE CAREFUL AS YoU TURN THE COR
NER."
1t Is, however, no topic for a lest when
we consider the matter from the proper
point. Persons are buried alive. and
have terrible period of agony in the
eeihn before death comes to their relief
We execrate the old Roman law which
authorized the magistrates to bury alive
their lncoGtinent vestal virgins. The
lhraclans, after the practice of India.
burned widows. Amestris or Esther.
queen OF Aerxes Of Persia, caused four
teen living children to be inferred. and.
till lately, Hindoo widows were buried or
burned alive at Suttees. But we, in our
reckless carelessness, do as badly as they.
a write. In the Ninteenth Century in
forms us that at the public naoatauyie of
Parls about one in every three hundred
persons supposed to be dead actually
comes again to life. at that rate one
hundred persons must be buried alive
annually belonging to the city of New
York; and mere, too. not 1.-THE of,be
precautions are taken that are REQUIRED
in France and England.
A well authenticated case is on record
OF strong nan dropping away sudden
~, whose grave or tomb was opened