The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-07-28

VOL. XVI.---NO. 80.

ity of the muscles, causing the body
and each part of it to retain the po-
sition in which it may have been at
the time of the attack, or in which it
may afterwards be placed. 1t
may attack both sides of the body,
or one side only, by a single limb or
organ. Sometimes it is preceded
by signs of previous disorder, and at
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 retrocessioH of a cutaneous erup-
tion-in short, any thing that debili-
tates the system viii produce this
singular attack. Ofcourse, as with
most disorders, it is oceasioned in
males by disorder of the digestive
system, and in females with diseases
of the womb. Caution should
therefore be observed, and surfeiting,
cold, overtaxing the brain, excessive
bathing, mental excitement, sexual
alterations, the use of tobacco or
annsthetics, unWhOlesome postures
in bed, ETC., should be carefully
avoided. When a peculiar feeling
of stupor is perceived, the limbs "falI
asleep" without apparent cause, or
there is an uneasiness and rigidity OF
the muscles, with vertigo, lassitude,
debility and caprice of the mind, a
susceptible person should be on the
alert, for there may be no time to
waste. These are incipient 5ymp-
toms of an attack.
Ire signs of total extinction fife
are not so unequivocal as many sup
pose. Cessation of respiration and
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 die finger,
relying on the flow or non-flowing
of the blood to reveal the actual fact.
Perhaps visicaton would be equally
sure. Heat or an irritating sub
stance could be applied to the skin
the occurring of 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 light is
said to be sure-a redness being ap-
parent in the living subject, but none
in the case of death. GaIvanism has
been supposed to furnish a certain
test. Irritability is extinguished first
in the ventricle, then in the asopha-
gus, and after that in the iris. The
muscles Of the trunk finally give
way, the extremities and the auri-
cles. The collapsed edge of wound
in dead BODY, in distinction from d
gashing wound in living one, is the
result of peculiar indication Of
death. Flaccidity is q certain sign
Of death, putrefaction is mequivocal.
or the Cslabar bean ap-
Piled to the eve, 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
nunIiser Known 10 have been actually
buried alive is already sufficient to
Justify extraordinary precautions in
every case. Babler collected the de-
.ails of fifty-three who recovered !
assistance after they were
aid in their coffins, and of seventy
TWO falsely reported as dead. Legis-
alton ought to be interposed in the |
matter. The law should require the
examination of the body by medi-
al man or expert before its inter- |
ment. When a physician has been
employed he should be obliged to !
.ertify to actual death, unless the |
evidence of dissolution |
lad already appeared. Undertakers |
md others having charge of funerals
hould be compelled to ascertain that
leath has occurred before cOffining
he remains. The idea of suffoca-
ion in the coffin is more terrible than
hat of torture on the rack or burn
ng at the stake. Carelessness can
lot be innocense; even ignorance in
uch 4 matter is akin to crime. 4
nOckery is our sOrrOwing our tears
re little better than hypocrisy when
We neglect precautions against this
erTible fate to which every one of US
5 thus liable.