The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-07-28

much on this subject, and not with
out much anxiety. There is actu
ally little profession for any of u
from this terrible peril. We ex
haust our energies by overwork anC
excitement, too much fatigue of the
brain, the use of tobacco, sedativei
and anRstheics, and by habits anC
practices which hasten the three sis.
| ters in the spinning OF the fatal
thread. ApOplexy, palsy, epilepsy
are likely to PROSTATE us at any mo-
ment, and cstalepsy, perhaps, is moi
far from any of us.
This last affection Is characterized
Dy loss more or less complete oi
consciousness, with a peculiar rigid
lty Of the muscles, causing the body
and each part Of il to retain the DO.
s1tion In which it may have been al
the time Of the attack, or in which il
may afterwards be placed. II
may attack both sides of the BODY,
or one side only, by single limb OF
organ. Sometimes It Is preceded
by signs of previous disorder, and al
other times it occurs without any
previous warning symptoms. Any
stray emotions, any unusual or pro-
tracted intellectual exertion, great
| physical exhaustion, unsatiated sex
Ual desire or excessive indulgence,
the retrOcession of a cutaneOus erup-
tion-in short any thing that debili-
tatee the system will produce this
singular attack. Ofcourse, as with
most disorders, it is Occasioned in
males by disorder Of the digestive
system, and in females with diseases
of the womb. Caution should
therefore be observed, and surfeiting,
undue exposure to extreme heat or
cold, Overtaxing the brain, excessive
bathing, mental excitement, sexual
alterations, the use of tobacco or
anesthetics, unwholesome postures
in bed, ETC., should be carefully
avoided. When a peculiar feeling
of stupor is perceived, the limbs ''fail
asleep" without apparent cause, or
there is an uneasiness and rigidity of
the muscles, with vertigo, lassitude,
debility and caprice Of the mind, q
susceptible person should be on the
alert, for there may be no time to
waste. These are incipient symp-
toms of an attack.
TIE signs OF total extinction of life
are not so unequivoc8l as many sup
pose. Cessation of respiration aud
circulation can not afford positive
evidence, for the external senses are
not sufficiently acute TO enable US to
detect either respiration or the circu-
lation in the smallest degree compat-
ible with mere existance. Loss of
heat is not conclusive, for life may
continue and recovery take place
when no preceptible vital warmth
exists. 1t is customary in some
places to cut or amputate she finger,
relying on the flow or nOn-flOwing
Of the blood to reveal the actual fact
Perhaps Visication would be equally
sure. Heat or an Irritating sub
stance could be applied to the skin
the occurring of a blister is evidence
of vitality. FOubert proposed to
cut into one of the intercostal spaces
and feel the heart with the finger.
Holding the fingers before n light is
said to be sure-a redness being ap-
parent in the living subject, but none
in the case of death. Galvanism has
been supposed to furnish n certain
test. Irritability is exiinguished first
| in the Ventricle, then in the esopha-
gus, and after that in the iris. The
muscles of the trunk finally give
way, the extremities and the auri-
| clps. The collapsed edge of wound
/ in a dead body. in distinction from a
/ gashing wound in a living one, is the
| result of a peculiar indication OF
| death. FIaccidity is a certain sign
/ of death, putrefaction is unequiYocal.
| Belladonna or the Calabar bean ap-
piled to the eye, it is said, will sensi-
| bly, affect the eye if the person is liv-
! ing. The number of persons who
! have revived at the last moment, as
| they were about to be consigned 10
| the coffin, is fearfully great. The
number known 10 have been actually
buried alive is already sufficient to
| Justify extraordinary precautions in
every case. Babler collected the de-
| tails OF filty-three who recovered
without assistance after they were
K laid in their coffins, and of seventy
| two falsely reported as dead. Legis-
lation ought TO be interposed in the
matter. The law should require the
examination Of the body by a medi-
| cal man or expert before its inter-
ment. When a physician has been
employed he should be Obliged to
Cefllly 10 dCludl ucalls uliicSS the
uneQuiFocaI evidence of dissolution
| hsd already appeared. Undertakers
and others having charge of funerals
should be compelled to ascertain that
death has occurred before coffining
the remains. The idea of suffoca-
tion in the coffin is more terrible than
that Of torture on the rack or burn
ing at the stake. Carelessness can
not be innoeense even ignorance in
such matter Is akin to crime. A
mockery is our sorrowing our tears
are little better than hypocrisy when
We neglect precautions against this
terrible fate TO which every one Of us
is thus liable.