Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-03-28

1
yer of the city of New York, who
died in the apparently full vigor o
life, actually recovered after inter
ment, and that the cloths about biz
face were found to be saturated with
his blood. We know nothing of the
accuracy of the story. Bodies have
been removed from old to new bury,
fairgrounds, several Of them having
turned over in the coffin. Perhaps
this phenomenon is produced by the
mechanical force of the gases which
are generated by decomposition, but
who knows? We have refe cted
much upon this subject. and not
without much anxiety. There is &C
tually little protection for any of us
| from this terrible peril. We exhaust
our energies from overwork, excite
ment, too much fatigue of the brain,
the use of tobacco, sedatives and an
aesthetics, and by habits and prac-
tees which hasten the three sisters
Ii the spinning of the fatal thread.
Apoplexy, palsy, epilepsy, are likely
to PROSTATE us at any moment and
catalepsy, perhaps, is not far from
any one of us. This last affection is
characterized by loss more or less
complete of consciousness, with a Pc
culiar rigidity of the muscles, caus-
ing the body and each part of it to
retain the position in which it may
bave been at the moment of attack,
or in which it may afterward be
placed. 1t may attack both sides of
the body, one side only, or single
limb or organ. Sometimes it is pre-
ceded by signs of nervous disorder,
and at other tunes it occurs without
any previous warning symptoms.
ANY STRANGE EMOTION,
any unusual or protracted intellect
ual exertion, great physical exhaus-
ton, unsatiated sexual desire or ex-
cessive indulgence, the retrocession
of cutanenus eruption-in short,
anything that debilitates the system
will produce this singular attack
vi course as with most disorders,
of the digestive system, aud in fe-
males with disease of the womb
Caution should, therefore, be observ-
ed and surfeiting, undue exposure
to extreme heat or cold, everlasting
the brain, excessipg bathing, men tai
alterations, sexual excitement, the
use of tobacco or an@sthetics, nm
wholesome postures in bed, &C.,
should be carefully avoided. When
a peculiar feeling of stuper is percei-
we'd, the limbs "fall asleep" without
apparent cause, or there is an un-
easiness and rigidity of any of the
mucles, with vertigo, lassitude debil-
ity, and caprice of the mind, a sus-
ceptible person should be on the
alert, for there may be no time to
waste. These are incipient SYMPTOMS
of an attack. The signs of
TOTAL EXTINCTION OF LIFE
are not so unequlvocal as many sup
pose. Cessation of respiration and
circulation cannot afford positive evi.
dence, for the external senses are
not sufficiently acute to enable us to
detect either respiration or circula-
tion in the smallest degree compa-
table with mere existence. Loss of
heat is not conclusive; for life may
continue and recovery take place
when no perceptible vital warmth
exists. 1t is customary in some
places to cut or amputate finger, re-
lying on the flowing or non-fowing
of the blood to reveal the actual
fact. Perhaps vesication would be
equally sure. Heat or an irritating
substance could be applied to the
skin-the occurring of blister is evil
dence of vitality. Fonbert proposed
as test, to cut into the intercostal
spaces and feel the heart with the
finger. Holding the fingers before
light is said to be sure--a redness
being apparent in the living sgbject,
but none in case of death. Galvan-
ism mas been supposed to furnish a
! certain test. Irritiability is exiting
uished first in the left veatrica, then
in the iuastines and stomach, next
in the bladder, afterward in the
right ventricle, then in the esopha-
gus, and after that 10 the iris. The
muscles of the trunk finally give
way, the extremities, and the auri-
Giles. The collapsed edge Oft wound
IN dead body in distinction from
"a gashing wound in a living one, is
the result of peculiar irritability
the extinction of which is one of the
surest indications of death, Flaccl-
dity is u certain sign of death put.
reiaction is unequivocal. Belladona
or the Calabar bean applied to the
eye, it is said, will sensibly affect the
iris if the person is living. The mum
Der of persons who have
REVIVED AT THE LAST MOMENT
about to be consigned TO the coffin, il
fearfully great. The number known
to have been actually buried alive il
already sufficient to justify extra
ordinary precautions in every case
Babier collected the details of 5:
cases of persons buried alive, of 5;
who recovered without assistance
after they were laid in their collins
! and out of ~ falsely reported al
dead. Legislation ought to be in
terposed in this matter. The Law
should require the examination of The
body by a medical man or expert
before permitting his interment
When physician has been employ
ed he should be obliged to certify L
actual death, unless the unequivoca
evidences of dissolution had already
appeared. Undertakers and other
having charge of funerals should b,
compelled to ascertain that deatl
has occurred before coffining the re
, mains. The idea of suffocation in
; coffin is more terrible than that O
torture on the rack or burning at tn
/, stake. Carelessness cannot be limo
: cent even ignorance in such ma,
ter is akin to crime. A mockery i
our sorrowing, our tears are littl
! better than hypocrisy, when we neg