New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-16
BURLAL BETTER THAN CREMATION.

DR.. p II. Holland, a British Medical In
spector writes in opposition TO cremation, London
journal He says
If the advocates for cremation confined their efforts
10 trying persuade those VINO prefer II 20 adopt the
practice OF cremation for one should not think II
worth while oppose them, being well assured that so
very few would follow that advice that htte practical
Inconvenience would result though H. contrary TO All
reasonable expectation the practice should become cou
even frequent, some very troublesome precsu-
would have 10 be taken 10 guard against the de-
structOn OF evidence OF guilt or what Is as important
OF innocence in OF suspected murder especially by
poison Some OF the advocates TOT CREMATION however
not content with asserting that the dead might be
burned without creating any nuisance, which do
and no cost spared also assert what is quite
that by no amount OF reasonable care can the
Of injury and the certainty OF danger and one
OF them has even yentured 70 aaduce, as PROOF,
that wel-situated and wellmanaged cemeteries are
or must public nulsanees, because fOrsOoth.
overcrowded burial grounds were so when closely sur
rounded by dwellings, and In which the remains or
the dead were constantly being disturbed before
decay was completed As we'll might " DO CON
tended that because dung heap In O close
court il dangerous and disgusting nuisance, there
fore A cultivated garden, rendered FERTILE by the same
orr of manure must necessarily be a or danger
~ an near IT, Many of the recently established
ieres are in effect ornamental gardens much used
vorite resorts for air and exercise by large numbers
80 rsons VINO have no easy access 10 other places
ana IL simply incredible that they would De so USED II
they as hos been rashly as.erteu' on.hsSe anu
dgreeabe IL IL OF course essential 20 safety that tue
situation for cemeteries should be well CHOSEN and that
they should very carefully MANAGED put to assert
II
aged they are OF reasonable apprehension 10 all
residug near them. absurd 10 Oe believed by
one but an enthusiastic advocate OF cremation Obliged
10 use bad arguments being short OF good ones
As 10 the economy Of the proposed change the
answer l. very simple. The cost OF raising 10 white
neat A chamber seven feet long and five feet IN diam
eer IN which il stared corpse may be reduced 10
ashes IN an hour be much more tnan for digging
grave and as most places cemeteries have rarely
already provided which must be'pald for whether used
or not the OF The grave itself can nut rarely b"
saved; but even II all cost or burial itself could he
ayolded the expense OF funerals would be but little
due ed unless indeed the people at large could be per
shaded To furegO all costly ceremony III the disposal
az The dead They are, indeed, gradually learn
ing that undertakers' display is vulgar and
taetaleSs as well as wasteful. but Ns diminutlou
would not necessarily be effected BY the subst-
sutton Of burning for burylng while II might be much
diminished II provision made, AZ II easily might be
for avoiding funeral professions from the dwellings Il
the cemetery and cOnfnIug the ceremony within he
ureclac Of the cemetery Itself. II the cOfin
yeyed previously - place OF reception aC the GENE
fery tne funeral party might assemble there with
Iltte trouble or II rhcy going church
Nv which plan temptation 10 make fuuereal display
would removed Win the opportunity u doing O
cour,e such change IN established custom only b,
81 cted grl lualy; but, II once t.icu, It's great con
veniruce would insure liz RAPID adoption one OF IL
advantages would be That tause ngiug near TIE road
LEADING 80 eterr5 would not DE annoyed by t SIGH
nf minerals sometimes 80 frequent "a, 10 DC serious
subject Ol complaint.