The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-18
Hastv Rurials.

way, as you enter Pere la Chaise, in
P arts, stands an immense square build
ing called LIE Mortuaire Publique.
Here the dead are left for time prior
to their final deposit, and morning and
evening each body is carefully exam
ined, and indications of returning vital
ity watched. The lids of the collins
are left open, and every means are
ready at hand to sound the alarm in
case os returning life, and to Fesusci-
tste those who show any 81 ms of re-
turning consciousness. The French
people have q morbid fear of being
buried alive, and the state of catalepsy,
with it's various phases, has for a num-
Der of years been the subject of mature
thought among the physicians of
Franco. The danger of hasty sepulture
has received so many illustrations in
the United States as to make it a ques-
ton open to grave discussion and re-
form. The percentage of those awaken
ing from their long sleep, according TO
French statistics, is about one in 400,
and the probabilities are that in Eng
land, where the period between death
and burial is generally six days, and in
America, where the dead are thrust out
of sight as quick as possible, the per-
centage Is considerably greater. I'm
necessary haste characterizes most of
our doing upon this side of the ocean ;
but In no particular are we more inju-
dicious, more guilty of want of feeling
and scientific shOrtsightedness than in
the Iapidity with which We dispose of
our dead.
In the experience of medical stu
dent, published in the January number
of the Inland Monthly, by Enrique
Farmer, we find several well-authenti-
Gated cases, sufficient to fill the mind
with horror and to turn the thoughts
backward to many faces whose Iifelike
expression upon their day of departure
from the light of heaven has remained
indehbly impressed upon our memo
ries. We have frat the caseof a strong
man who dropped away suddenly, was
put in the grave and the sods stamped
upon his coffin. Four days afterward
the body was found twisted round, an
ankle dislocated, hair turned white and
torn out, and features distorted in a
terrible manner. There is next the
case of young lady, beautiful in per-
son and accomplishment, laid away
hurriedly. Upon removing her remains
to another cemetery the open coffin dis
closed a gashed face, decorated breast
and arms, tufts of hair strewn about,
feet drawn up IS is if in wild effort for
release, the fnely-chiseled features
SCARED by finger mails. L IS than a
score OF years ago a young man, six
days after burial, was found turned on
mis- face, with one arm bitten to the
bone and other evidences of a frightful
death wrestle. In the various grave
yards of the land, where cemeteries
hQun hpaT1 dvToa c11I
have been often found bodies or skele-
tons turned over on their sides or faces,
with knees drawn up, joints d'stended,
hands clenched. arms thrust against their
narrow prison-hOuse, fingers twisted in
the hair, and numerous other evidences
of struggle too horrible and agoniz-
ing to dream of. In the old burial
ground In the city of Brooklyn there
vas found the corpse of a young bride,
dressed in wedding garments of the
richest Write satin, with bridal veil,
ring, and all the evidences of wealth
and position. The skeleton was found
twisted and displaced, and the gar
ments grasped as if in a wise in the
clenchel finger bones even the long.
raven tr5sses, which were as glossy and
perfect as ever, we're bit fast in the
heshless teeth, "a with the final de-
spanning agony of death. Numerous
lses of a similar kind have happened
here aud in England Only last year a
woman die1 10 Pennsylvania and was
buried. When her husband, who had
been absent at the time of her death, re-
turned, he insisted upon elimination,
and to the unutterable dismay of all the
body was found ly ing uDo- its ce, the
shroud covered with blood, the flesh
Arnr-r1 f-~, NEs.f Lea II 1
merk that a fearful struggle had taken.
place. But the most singular case
recorded by the medical student is one
which came under his own knowledge
and manipulation. Among his &C
quaintances he numbered a young and
beautiful girl, Mss --, for whom he
cherished a sincere and romantic attach
ment. TIE his infin te establishment he
read IN the morning paper that she had
Just died and would be buried to-mor-
row. HuIrying to the house he found
that the young girl had d ed of heart
disease, and that the old family physi-
clan had pronounced life extinct. Her
appearance, connected with this sudden
taking of, convinced him that she vas
only In trance. He waited upon thu
physician, implored him to DELAY this
interment-in vain. There was a fine
funeral, an eloquent sermon, tears and
flowers all In proper form-nud the
fair being was laid in the dust and shut
oat forever from life and light. As the
clock tOlled the hour of midnight the
young student, with the assistance of
friend, stood at the grave Spreading
blanket upon the earth, they cut the
Sod and began their work. In few
minutes the spade touched the head of
the nnf1io oT16 L
deep grOan smots upon their Irs.
As the student cautiously put his hand
within the coffin to lift the body out,
the hand of the girl, which was laid
palm downwards over her eyes and
forehead, clutched the hand that touch
ed her like a wise, ,he mouth at the
same time utteriug a most agonizina
Rrosn. Wrapping the body in blank
cts, the two students bore 1t swiftly to
their sanctum, close the door, and
there a sight revealed itself which
chilled the youths with terror and re-
morse. The lip was bitten through,
Shields of raven hair were twisted round
the fingers, and the left wrist was dis
located in the unavailing efforts of the
poor creature to free herself from mis-
cry. Once, only once, Hnder the infiu-
ence of a powerful battery, did she
open her eyes. But all was oversize
was dead-killed by heartless custom,
uns eemly haste ard burial ignorance.
'Tdere are many reasons why hasty
burials are iniudicious, not to say in
decorOus aud unfeeiDg. The use Ct
opiates and the Increase of nervous
diseases IN the United States have GER
taialy had tendency to develop cases
OF catalePsv or trance. A man sud.
denly stricken down with apoplexy.
palsy, epilepsy or some one of the
many forms Of brain disease appar-
emily life bas departed, and he is i'm
mediately shut up in a box, prayed
over AMI hurried away with unneces-
sary haste to his last resting place.
In the heat Of summer it is OF course
desirable that speedy interment should
take place, but thai very heat soonest
devel BPS the sign which no eyes can
mistake-tbe presence Of decom posi-
ton. Until tie pho nomenon has taken
place it is neither right, reasonable nor