The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-04-20
Cremation in Italy.

IremAIIOn In ltdlys
The first practicable experiment in
Italy of cremation, and one sanctioned
by the city authorities, has recently
taken plabe in the public cemetery of
Milan. 1t is true there have been iso-
lated instances of the burning of dead
bodies, as for example that of the young
Indian Prince, who died some years ago
In Florence, and whose tomb, sur
mounted by his bust, stands in the Cas-
cine gardens, just outside the city. But
this was in the open air, and by means
of wood, fuel too costly to become
general, and besides the occurrence of
one or two rare instances of this kind is
very different from having building
for the purpose in the public cemetery,
and according to cremation all the
rights of the old mode of burial. This
event created a great sensation in Milan,
and the following account shows how
important an event it was considered:
Albert Keller, originally of Zurich,
but for many years a resident of Milan,
died two years ago, leaving considers
BILE fortune, acquired as merchant of
silk in that city. Always warm advo-
cate of cremation, he left clause in his
will expressing the desire that his body
should be burned, intrusting Professor
Polli, an ardent promoter of the new
system, with the carrying out of his
wishes, and for the necessary expenses
he left 10000 francs.
First of all it was necessary to obtain
the consent of the city, and this, with the
building of a little temple in the ceme-
terry, and other preparations, caused
considerable delay, and it was only two
years from the time of his death that
the body, provisorily embalmed and
placed in a vault, was taken from its
resting place and reduced, according to
the wish of the deceased, to a handful
of ashes. The heirs had spared no ex-
pense or pains in the preparation, and
instead of 10000, spent 10000 francs
for the temple, not counting the monu-
ment for the ashes, which cost 100000
more. This event had been looked for
ward to with great interest by the med
ical men and hygienists. More than
1900 invitations had been given, and,
notwithstanding the stormy weather,
large concourse was present. The APP
paratus for cremation was invented by
Professors Poli and Clericetti, and is
disposed in such a manner that nothing
calls to mind an industrial process, or
tends to disturb the religious solemnity
of the occasion. Not tube, not a
valve is seen. The urn is in the form of
an ancient Roman sarcophagus. The
body is introduced through side aper-
ture, after which the urn is closed and
the process of combustion begins. The
urn, externally, is kept at a very low tenn
perature, but a small glass window in
the side allows the body within to be
seen, surrounded by the devouring
flames. The method of combustion is
by ordinary gas, made in special gas
ometer, and introduced into the urn by
subterranean tubes. The body rests
upon a veritable bed of flames, there
being a grating formed by tubes, from
which issue about 500 jets of gas mixed
with air. Other jets are found in the
upper part, and are directed upon those
parts of the body, such as the head,
which present the greatest resistance
to the fire. 1t is scarcely necessary to
add that there is no disagreeable odor
whatever, and the whole spectacle,
though new and striking, had nothing
in it repulsive or undignified. This APP
paratus has been presented to the city,
so that those hereafter wishing to make
use of it can do so at a comparatively
small expense.
First of all, the Protestant pastor
(the deceased having been an Evangel-
icaD pronounced a discourse to show
that cremation was not at all opposed
to the teachings of Christianity. After
him Clericetti, one of the inventors of
the apparatus, and others, spoke warmly
in favor of the new method. The pro-
cess lasted an hour and a half, and con-
suned forty-twO cubic metres of gas.
At present great efforts are being
made in Milan to form a society having
cremation for its object, in imitation of
those in London and Zurich, and al
ready over 400 have become members,
among whom a large number of ladies.
One lady who has lately died expressed
the desire in her will to be burnt, and
considering the favorable result of the
first experiment, there is no reason to
think that the permission will be de-
MED. The lady having been a Roman
Catholic, the event is looked forward to |
with certain kind of curiosity to see
what attitude the Catholic clergy will
assume in regard to it.