The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-11-05
MISCELLANY.
In ARTICULO MORTIS.
Some Remarkable Death-bed Scenes
A Physicians Observations OF
Men in Their Last Moments.
fFrom the netroit Free Press.,

tno painful scenes AItSDudht upon hAS
death bed, said: II have Witnessed in
the long experiences of my life many
deaths, but the great mystery of death
| only grows upon me as the years ad
vance," He then went on to talk of
how the average man meets death. He
said that in the majority of cases, where
men in dying have physicians in at
tendance, they passed out of life without
being conscious of the change. They
are stupefed by narcotics given them to
dull pain, and die the death of brutes,
as this physician says, instead of like
men. This medical authority has an
idea that the first moment of death
comes like the period of dropping off to
sleep, the sleeper, not knowing when it
comes. He has often experimental
with handkerchief to see if he could
ascertain the exact period when he would
fall asleep. This he would attempt to
do by lying down with a handkerchief
in his hand, trusting that when the mo-
ment came the relaxation of his hand
in dropping the handkerchief would
tell him the exact moment when he lost
Consciousness. But he always failed in
the experiment.
In speaking upon this subject of death,
he described most remarkable death
bed scene which he witnessed upon the
out skirts of Washington.
The hero Of this occasion was poor
Frenchman, who worked as an ostler for
a small inn-keeper, who kept a house
where hucksters and countrymen found
them. This Frenchman lived in a very
small house near the inn. He was mar
riedy and with an income of SIS month
he and his wife managed TO live in what
they considered comfort. He had,
however, the use Of small patch of
land, the products of which enabled
him to exc out his very moderate income,
The time came, after several years of
his human life, that the husband could
no more go to his work. A disease of
the kidneys, long neglected, seized npon
him with savage hold, SO that in a
few short days death came very near.
The physician that was called was sur
prised to find this poor man possessing
a culture far above the ordinary. The
French ostler, working for the humble
pittance of S15 month, had in his
library well thum bed. works of the best
French writer's Racine, Corneille,
Moliere, Balzac and VoItaire, were the
daily companiors of this humble for
eigner.
The physician soon saw that there was
no room for his art here, that death
could not be averted; but he did not
mention this to the sick man. He gave
him potion to make him sleep, and for
the time being left him to the care OF
his young wife, who nursed her husband
as tenderly as if he was child and moi
a full grown man.
A week or so after the first call the
physician visited the Frenchman s little
house in the evening. 1t was late in the
fall, and the cool lights had caused the
wife to bnild cheerful wood fire in the
open fireplace in the main room in the
house. The Frenchman was found sit
ting in a large easy chair in front of the
fire. His countenance had upon it ar
unusually lively expression. He play
fully called his wife Marie to him, as ht
chatted with the physician. and ever
made her sit upon his lap, although such
an exertion made him tremble like 8
leaf. After an hours chat upon many
matters, during which the Frenchmar
never appeared mentally clearer, or NOR,
to an advantage, he suddenly checked
the talk by saying: "My time has come
viii you please help me to the bed?"
The physician hastened to his aid
and gently led the man to the bed. Th'
dying man placed himself squarely up
on it, looking straight before him as h,
called his wife to him.
"Good bye, doctor; shall be off in
moment" said he, in strong, clea
voice, as he took his little wife in hi
, arms. "Poor little Marie" added he, il
cheerful voice. 81 do believe you ar,
crying. You are young and pretty
You will find some one to care for yo1
r when your old man is gone"
Here he took his wife's face betwee
his two trembling hands and kissed he
= repeatedly.
= Then he murmured "adieu," an
: quickly "au reUoir," as he gave her f
nal kiss.
At once he became rigid, and ex
claimed in loud voice, Stand bach
f ah! My father before me, at Waterloo
n died with his face to the enemy. l, toc
a will face the great enemy, Deathl''
He raised hisAead boldly and locke
+. straight ahead, with the buoyant look {
a man. who knows not fear, and wit
this noble look of courage upon his fac
7 he passed away.
As a class, the physicians think tn;
people of culture meet death more firm
ly than the illitcrate ones. Those
n higher minds have invariably canvasse
the subject of death, and it never COM
to them with all the terrors that it do
a to people of lower grade of intellec
n The exceptions of this are the cases
IN brutes executed for the commission
N some crime. The majority of these d
"a calmly, but it is the excitement of Il
10 situation and the presence of many spe
: tators that keeps them up. tits also $
cret practice in most penitentiaries
furnish prisoners who are to be hun
T. with an inordinate quantity of stim
w lants, SO that they are rarely if ever
st. a normal condition when they stand ia
as to face with death on the scafold. E
ecute men in secret, without any Epect
tors beyond the necessary officials
Y sickening details published in the new
u papers, and executions would have a te
r. Al IL 81