Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-03
ALEiA. GAZETTE& s VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
CREMATION IN PARIS.

Times says the best mode OF disposng Of our
dead Is once more under discussion here, and
iDcremation seems TO be making some progress.
A humber Of men have come out IN favor OF
burning our dead, and when people show no
fear of discussing new. theory there is every
reason to count upon its progress. Recognlz-
ing, however, that the prejudice 10 favor OF our
present mode Of burial is very old and very
deeply rooted, no one expects to see lncrema-
,ion adopted at once. Alphonsc karr propos
es that the municipal authorities should fur
nish the means for incremation 10 each great
cemetery for the use of those who favor the
idea and he thinks it would soon cease to
shock the public, and even become popular
when few rich aud noble families have pub
licy burned their dead, with all due soiemnIy,
and placed their ashes in elegant funeral urDs.
Inscriptions could then be placed upon them
and the urns ranged on,shelyes IN the family
tomb. But whether or not this plan be adopt
ed, we have reached point when we are oblg-
ed TO ask ourselves what shall be done with the
dead. Our larger cemeteries are full. A por.
ton oil them is parceed out and sold to par
ties perpetuite, but for those who are unable
to pay the price the limit is five years, and
although the dead may be left little longer,
they are soon driven out, the ground Is over
turned, and room is made for others. The bones
of all the poor who died ten years ago now lie
iu one common heap, and once more the ccme-
teries are filled. But the soil refuses to do its
work any longer. 1t has become saturated,
and will no longer absorb. The graves are DOW
dug in mass Of putrefaction and exhalatlons
arc constantly rising to poison the living Only
thin layer of each separates the graves, aud
only few days ago young and beautiful glri,
the idol of her home, was lowered into
grave which filled the minds of every assist
ant with horror. A stream Of lquihed
putrid matter was running 10 from the grave
beside it. Two grave diggers recently struck
too near when opening grave, broke open
coffin, and died in few hours from the poison
Gus exhalations. Great precautions have to be
taken in digging ordinary graves, for, as have
previously stated, the ground is thoroughly
saturated, and can absorb no longer. The con-
dton of the atmosphere and OF the water IN
about, and it is not astonishing that the slcky
quarters of the city should be near these great
cemeteries.
But what is to be done? The time has come
for another removal Of the dead, and many
lives must be sacrificed 10 the work. Five years
ago the emperor was much moved by report
embracing what | have said above, and his
remedy was the opening of large cemetery at
Merry Olse A railroad was to be construct
ed thither, and all funeral conveys, with as
many friends as the parties wished, transport
cd free of cost. A bill was brought before the
municipal council at his request, but it encount
cred great opposition from the radicals. They
said that it was an attempt to prevent the
poor from paying tribute to their cherished
dead; that the sight of the funeral conveys OF
the poor disturbed the rich 10 the midst OF
their luxury and their brilliant tetes. The
nod bv
and reuouuced the subject. But no sooner was
he dead than the question was revived by his
former opponents NJ Theirs wanted to carry
the project out, but tell before he could do 1t.
But how rapidly men change The other
day NJ. Henri Brisson, one of the very men
who had hurled the above sneer at the Empe-
ror, presented bill for the creation OF this
very cemetery, which was supported by all his
radical confreres. And Monseigneur Guibert,
one of the men who formerly favored the plan,
now opposes it bitterly, and in published let.
ter makes use Of the very same argument used
Ivy the republicans of other days.
HYDRoPHoBIA.-A late number of the Lon
dou Medical Press aud Circular says:
The warning given by the police IN London
to owners of dogs Is not nearly so urgent as
that issued iu Vienna, where it is said an cpl
dcmic of hydrophobia prevails In the Austrian
capital. So many cases of hydrophobla have
lately occurred that the authorities consider
there is at the present moment an epidemic OF
bydrophobia, and meeting OF veterinary sur,
geons has been called to consider whether
there should be general slaughter of all dogs
found 10 the streets 1t is question whether
that would not be more justi6able than to eu-
force the practice of muzzling healthy dogs. 1t
cannot be TOO frequently repeated that rabies is
disease. that it usually comes on slowly, and
that it is not necessarily accompanied by de-
sire to bite. As the dog does not persplre
through his skin, but through his tongue, any
muzzle which interieres with that function is
cruel and certain to create disease. Look at
the majority of muzzles They compel the
poor creatures to keep their mouths shut.
Medical meu everywhere should explain to
their friends who keep dogs the need these
animals have in hot weather to protrude their
tongues. After all, rabies is rare In the dog,
and hydrophobia causes very few deaths.
AT the instance of Lord de la War; royal
commission has been appointed to ascertain
what can be done to make railway travelling in
Great Britain safer The English railways are
probably the best 10 the world, all things con-
sidered; but accidents upon them have lately
increased to an enormous extent. ln 1877
there were 246 railway accidents in England,
100 people were killed aud 5000 injured there
by. Of these accidents 23S were classed as
preventable, even under existing regulations;
and nearly all the rest might have been pre-.
vented by better regulations. Ooe great cause,
of accidents was the fact that the servants OF