San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-06
Painless Death.

Perhaps one of the most interesting
chapters in DR.. Clarke's new book, says
Boston letter to the Chicago Journal,
is that which treats of the visions of the
dying. The phenomenon of death is
only little understood. The mystery
which shrouds death is not greater than
that which shrouds birth, or thought, or
volition; yet religion and various other
things have all conspired to misin-
terpret its attendant phenomena. I" One
of the most common errors," says DR..
Clarke, sis the idea that pain and dying
are inseparable companions. The truth
is they rarely go together. Occasionally,
the act of dissolution is a painful one,
but this is an exception, and rare ex-
ception, to the general rule. The rule
is that Inconsistencies, not pain, at
tends the final act. Convulsive twitch-
ings, livid features, gurgling in the
throat, and similar CHASTITY symptoms
which mark the last moment, are only
exhibitions of unconscious automatic
action. The testimony of the
dying, SO long as they are able to give
any testimony, is that their sufferings do
not increase, but on the contrary grow
less. The following incident illustrates
the truth of this remark, and, so far as
a single instance is of value, confirms
what has been said as to the painlessness
of dissolution. A medical friend, whom
1 attended professionally in his last
illness, was a victim of a most painful
disease. He was aware of its incurable
character. Supported by an intelligent
faith in God and Immortality, he pre-
pared himself with admirable courage
and unfaltering trust for the final
change. In consequence of continual
and severe pain, he was obliged during
the last few years of his life to take opium
daily. He sent soon for me one night
after midnight. A brief examination
was sufficient to show that the end was
near. ""
"'Do these symptoms mean perfora-
tionp' asked DR.. -.
"'They do was the reply
"'Then 1 have reached the end of the
Chapter he quietly remarked, and add
ed show long shall probably lastp'
"'That you know, said, 'as well as
any one; perhaps twenty-four hours or
thirty-six hours
Scarcely needing the reply he con-
tinued:
"'I am ready; but promise me this;
that I shall not suffer pain if you can
prevent it,
"The promise was given, of course, and
agreed to see him every hour or two as
long as he lived. This being done, l
said to him, 'One thing remains; how
shall I communicate with you when, at
the very close, the time comes that you
can not indicate whether you suffer or
notP'
"After little talk the following sig
nails were agreed upon: He was to in
dictate a negative answer, or no
by raising the forefinger, and
and affirmative answer; or yes, by
raising the forefinger and the one next
it also. One finger was no; two fingers,
yes. Having arranged this matter, he
took rather more than his habitual dose
of opium, and was soon comparatively
quiet. The pain did not return. For
IL or Is hours he appeared much as usu-
al; conversed with his family and
friends, and was cheerful and serene.
Then, as natures anesthetic began to
act, he became dull and heavy. In an
swer to repeated inquiries as to pain, he
constantly replied in the negative. At
length he answered less readily. For
an hour or so before death he answered
only by the signal of his fingers which
had been agreed upon, and by that sig
nal he replied quickly and intelligently.
Fifteen minutes before dissolution ask
ed him, do you suffer painP' He in
stantly made the negative signal by
raising the forefnger. After this he
made no sign, but slept peacefully to the
aoI