The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-17
Cremation.

place with the aDruptness OF reNoi"oloha
in politics. Along chain of antecedent
causes growing up unnoticed slowly
gather force till, upon the PRONUNCIATION
of some new idea, it is found that the
sense of community has been growing
up in unison with it, and the degree OF
persuasion and of positive argument
necessary to insure its acceptance has
often been overrated by those who, alter
nature reflection, present their Ideas
for approval. Such has been the case
with the proposal for the burning OF the
dead which has recently been advocated
by Sir Henry Thompson, Professor OF
Clinical Surgery in University College,
London. A carefully-guarded but for
chile argument has been followed by a
reply to the criticisms passed upon the
first article, and an exposition OF the
process given, which was at first omit
ted from the fear of weighing the sub
iect too heavily, whereby an unfavorable
reception of this somewhat startling
proposition was to be feared.
The question has already reached that
point in England where immediate ac-
ton seems necessary. Twenty-Five years
ago an act of Parliament caused search
ing investigation into the state of the
burial grounds in London and some of
the provincial towns. The most dis
gusting and startling revelations were
made concerning their state, In conse-
quence of which intramural interment
was prohibited, vaults were Theoretically
sealed, and burials allowed only in
places far removed from cities. But
the difficulty was merely banished for a
period. 1t is only question of time
when Kensal Green and Norwood (cem-
eteries of the metropolis will reach this
same state and their condition become
dangerous. The urgent necessity of
preventing the pollution of the soil,
water and air by graveyards is unques-
toned. As far back as 1S49, DIR. Lyon
Playfair estimated that from the SO, 600
annual interments (now reaching 80, 000)
of London $500, 600 cubic feet of gases
were emitted and regarding the amount
of this absorbed by the earth, a grave
delusion has been entertained. The
gases evolved burst leaden collins, per-
meate the surrounding soil, and escape
into sewers passing near graveyards !;
and the prevalence of cholera in their
vicinity is fact we'll marked. Even
the rural districts were not exempt.
The condition of graveyards was often
abominable and revolving.
Regarding the practical operation, the
experiments of Sir Henry Thompson
performed thus far on the lower animals
are as follows; In a powerful rever-
berating furnace q cylindrical vessel
seven feet long by six III diameter was
heated to temperature of 2, 600 Fahren-
heit. Into this polished cylinder, al
ready at a white heat, body weighing
227 pounds was introduced. During
the first few moments gases were given
off abundantly, but, by passing through
a heated chamber of bricks laid lat
tice-fashion, they were rapidly oxidized,
and neither smoke nor gas escaped from
a chimney of the ordinary height. In
the course of an hour the process was
complete, and the ashes-a refined sub.
Innate, without taste or smell, in weight
about five pounds-were removed. As
an indication of the process in the hui
man subject, the following is suggested
by Sir Henry Thompson "When death
occurs, and the necessary certificate has
been given, the body is placed in light
wood shell, then in suitable outside
receptacle preparatory to removal for
religious rites or otherwise. After a
proper time has elapsed, it is conveyed
to the spot where cremation is to be
performed. There, nothing need be
seen by the last attendant but the
placing of the shell within a small COM
partment and the closing of the door
upon it. 1t slides down into the heated
chamber and is left there an hour, till
the necessary changes have taken place.
The ashes are then placed at the dis
posal of the attendants.
The necessity of adopting other means
of disposing of the dead than by burial
would seem to be abundantly shown.
The practical solution of the mechan-
ical difficulties we may consider to be
attained. There remain the bearings
upon the question of the esthetic sense
to be discussed.
Whatever be the religious faith or
conviction of people whatever creed
may guide their lives and animate their
hopes of the future; whether death
seem to them but a transition to the
life elysian," or the Stole doctrine of
humiliation hold them with a strange
and relentless fascination, any distinc-
ton between burial as Christian and
cremation as a Pagan rite is uncalled
for and unfounded. Expecting opposi-
ton from the general public, from those
interested in ceremonials, and from the
clergy, Sir Henry Thompson finds that
from persons in all ranks and stations
in life and from the press has come q
favorable assurance; and clergymen
have shown how easily the burial SER
vice can be rendered applicable to Gre
nation. As unaffecting any religious
convictions and compatible with re-
ligious rites, and as enabling them to
be conducted in suitable buildings with
a greater ease and safety to mourners
and attendants as preventing the pos
sibility of injury to the living; as a
precaution against secret poisoning
Through preservation of portions of
the viscera in suspected cases.; and,
finally, as relieving the mind from that
revolving and dreaded idea, which we all
entertain with a shudder-a consign-
ment 10 the grave during a trance or
seeming death-the process of crema-
ton presents advantages over that OF
burial which seem to entitle it to re-
spectful hearing. Probably no further
change in existing customs would be
advisable at present than allowing peo-
pie the option between cremation and