The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-06-26

Description Of New Cremation Fqrnace
A Body BURNING Society Estabnshea
fn New York.

Description Of New Cremation Fqrnace
A Body BURNING Society EstablIshea
in New York.
The Scientific Amcricdn for last
week contains an engraving Of o
cremation furnace, The invention Of
Sir Henry Thompson, of London,
which is said to have been practically
tested under the personal superin-
tendenco Of that eminent gentlemen.
A cylindrical vessel, some seven feet
long by five feet in width, is arrang-
ed in connection with furnace, SO
as to be heated to about 1000 deg.
Fab. The inner surface of the cyln-
der is smooth, almost polished, and
nothing is visible in the receptacle
but n pure almost white interior, the
lining being raised to white heat.
The body, in o metal coffin, is laid
upon a lattice work Of fire brick, and
the doors being closed, the process
continues for about fifty-fvo minutes,
reducing the body to mass Of white
ashes some five pounds in weight.
1t is proposed to construct o crena-
ton house, large enough to contain
two or three halls and, separated
from them, several powerful furnaces
of the above mentioned description.
The mourners are intended to assem-
Bile in an adjacent hall, where the
usual funeral ceremonies could be
conducted during the incineration,
after which the ashes, inclosed in a
suitable urn, would be taken away
by the relatives of the deceased.
There is one drawback to- crema-
ton which the opponents Of the pro-
cess will not hesitate to bring for
ward in the strongest terms. We
alIude to the impossibility Of detect
ing evidences Of poisoning, now found
by post norton examination, in case
such investigation is deferred until
after burning. AS q necessary result,
the opening Of every body and ex-
animation Of the vital portions would
follow; but this would involve con-
siderable eynense beside arousinQ
The powerful opnosition of the rela.
+ives of the deceased II Is yery
questionable whether the majority Of
mankind would be induced to CON
sent first to tlse mutflntion of tbe re-
mains Of those nearest 10 them and
then TO their subsequent destruction
Nv Gre The imnossibility of other
wise proving the existence Of foul
plav would be ant to lend to crime.
The Cremation society. which has
recently been Incorporated in New
York State has held q meetinc and
odoDted a basis of organization. Il
binds itself to perform tho act Of
cremation on the remains of any
shareholder provided he or she shall
express gucI a desire before death
md in the case of no opnosition from
Immediate relatives The strictost
measures will be taken to prevent tho
cremation. of ony Darson who has
come to his death bE any other than,
natural causes and the process will
be furnished at as near cost as DOS
eible. Itis believed That tho expense
will be about from $5 to So for each
body, and the company propose to
erect buildings and furnaces, at a
cost of $40 900. in the suburbs Of the
city The ashes will b6 at the dis
posal of friends OF relatives, who may
choose to bury or inurn them. At
the recent meeting, Prof. Barnard.
Prof. Seely, and other eminent
gentlemen delivered addresses in