New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-08
CREMATION.
A MODEL FURNACE.
DESCRIPTION or THE sIEMENs FURNACE-DEvELoP-
MrN-r OF THE MOVEMENT.

President of Columbia College. In view OF the fact
that q bill is before the Assembly at Albany 10
regulate cremation companies, 1T may be OF interest
to your readers know tho present attitude OF Gre
mationists The cuts show the most recent furnace
used for the purpose. Sd
Her York, April 30, 1873.
given TO the practice Of burning the dead This practice
certainly prevailed in prehistoric Europe but probably
in the Old Testament would seem 10 he exee
tional ones Il. Sam XXI. II; Amos w. TO- DC, Inc
ancient countries and finally extinguished by the
spread OF Christianity which introduced belief i IN
Of the early believers at least repugnant TO their
sentinents The ancient practice was to burn
the dead upon funeral pyre OF wool upon tpo6
and clothing placed IA practice reminding is OF the
custom prevalent among avages OF buryng 1000 ana
even slaves for the service Of the Departed Finally the
embers were gnenchcd with wnc and the ashes placed
cher coiumbariupl) subterranean cell, in some
buried I'm the earth at the spot where the incren
fo the ashes to extent prevalent throughout
Western Europe In Roman times If we can rely
upon published estimates as to the date OF certain sup
posed prehistoric remains. At present the cOmDoh OF
Hndostan In Norh-western British America there are
tribes which practice crcmaton and so do some OF ,he
ancient North American mounds nlled with ashes ana
haburned bones Some California indians burn their
dead and the ashes sort or paint,
they besmear themselves in the funeral dance.
Crematon.-Durng the years 1874 great efforts were
made on the Continent Of Europe In England ana ~ ,e
posing Of human bodies after death wherever 1t should
he desired TINS recent Gveet % i prac ic
with favor In London, Paris. NewYork, Vienna, Ber
ln Ielpsic and Dresden the feeling manifested itself IN
discussion in the press Many eXperm nts were made
animals, to ascertain the quickest and least OBJ
jectonabe method for this modern revival OF burning
| 81 tln aftsI
extent through nearly the whole historic period Of
man. is to be based upon scientific appliances which
fensivciy Prof Brunett OF Padua Italy, prominent
among the first in the movement shortly aerward Sir
Horny Thompson OF London exhaustive article
upon the subject urging its adoption with much lorce
NewYork. the idea receiving the approval OF many
fuental and intelligent citizens. simultaneously In
shown. Mr. Philip H. Holland of London replied to Sir
Henry Thompson at considerable length but the oppq
THIS doubtless due in great part however 10 th
general belief that the agitation purely theoretical
and that there was no immediate prospect OF the sue
ccssful establishment of the practice. Women have been
prominent among cremaionists and any general adop-
advocacy. In England Lady Rose Mary Craw-
shay, and in New-York a lady whose name
arameHts 'i in lis favor There are two dis,
tinct classes of arguments -hygenic and sentimental
in favor OF cremation The san'rian urges the danger
the living OF placing beneath the surface OF the eath
great Numbers or cad mar large cities 10 gradually
dccompose thus communicating the water ang pQl32huS
the air by the liberated gases the overloaded soil being
able to do the work OF disnfecton only TO limited ex
tent In general mpo lance, however the sentimental
Influences are greater both Tor and against burning ana
it will be long before u is accepted as civilized Gus
tom. IL is notable fact that has been lnalgraed
| practically by women, Lady Dixie Of England, and
another, German, having been crcmated nj Dresden
| Tho fear of being buried alive is very general,
and Is a powerful cause acting in favor or cremation
| 1t smphes very much the funeral rite and hence
| from its economy comments itself to a large class;
The most important objection raised against such t0ti
and rapid destruction Of the body is meicoegal as 1t =,
claimed that evidences OF poisoning and violence would
be- destroyed This is met by the statement hat neces
rily there would be careful examination OF DOoes
before burning and probably more general detection Of
crime. Cremation will be for many years AFTER us auop
ton confined large towns. The expense necessarily IN
cured in the erection OF furnaces and other apparatus
would indicate the probable formation OF JOntsJ0ck com
panes tO accomplish it, Two societies have been organ
lied in New York Cy-One among the Engllsh, anu the
other among tho German portion OF the popatl0nIthl
it il probable that in few years this rite Will De available
for those who prefer it, In Dresden az stated before
furnace operation The disposal of the ashes Is eft
TO tho choice OF the survivors. They may be placed IN
tho family vaults already built in many Of our beautiful
cemeteries devices may be adopted as the CUSTOM
becomes l0pular.