The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-30
PAINLESS DEATHS.
THE DEEP SEA sOUNDTNGs OF THE
DARK ABYSS.
Boston Letter to Chicago Journal!

Boston Letter to Chicago Journal
Perhaps one of the most interesting chap
ters In DR.. Clarke's new book Is that which
treats of the vision of the dying. The phe-
nOmenon of death is only little understood.
The mystery which shrouds death is not
greater than that which shrouds births, or
thought, or volition; yet religion and other
things have all conspired to misinterpret it's
attendant phenomena. zone Of the most
common errors" says DR.. Clarke, ''is the
idea that pain and dying are inseparable COM
panions. The truth is they rarely go to-
gether Occasionally, the act Of dissolution
Is painful one, but this is an exception and q
rare exception, to the general rule. The rule
is that unconsciousness, not pain, attends the
final act COnvulsive twitchings, livid fea-
lures, gurgling In the throat and similar
CHASTITY symptoms which mark the last mo-
ment are only exhibitions Of unconscious au-
tomato action. The testimony of the dying,
50 long as they are able to give any testimo-
ny, is that their sufferings do not increase as
the termination of life approaches. but on the
contrary g1ow less.
THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT
illustrates the truth of this remark, and 50
far as a single instance Is Of value, confirms
what has been said as to the painlessness of
dissolution. "a medical friend, whom | at
tended professionally in his last Illness, was q
victim OF a most painful disease. He was
| aware Of it's incurable character. Supported
| by an intelligent faith in God and immortal
| ity, he prepared himself with admirable cour-
| age and unfaltering trust for the final change.
| In consequence of continual and severe pain,
| he was obliged during the last few months OF
| his life to take opium daily. He sent soon for
| me one night after midnight. A brief examina-
| ton was sufficient to show that the end was
near.
"Do these symptoms mean perforation?'
| asked DR.. -.
"'They do was the reply.
"'Then have reached the end Of the chap
| ter he quietly remarked, and added, how
| long shall probably last?'
THAT you know. said, as well as any
| one; perhaps twenty-four hours or thirty-six
| hours
Scarcely needing the reply he continued:
| I am ready; but promise me this; that [
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 / said to him
| One thing remains; how shall comm unicate
with you when, at the very close, the time
comes that you cannot indicate whether you
| suffer or not p
| "After little talk the following signals
were agreed upon: He was to indicate mega
tive answer, or no, by raising the foretinger;
| and an affirmative anwer, or yes, by raising
| the forefinger and the one next 1t ALSO One
finger was no; two fingers yes. Having ar
ranged this matter he took rather more than
his habitual dose of opium, and was soon COM
paratively quiet. The pain did not return
For twelve or fifteen hours he appeared much
as usual; conversed with his family and
friends, and was cheerful and serene Then,
as natures anesthetic began to act, he became
dull and heavy. In answer to repeated inqui.
ries 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 signal he re.
piled quickly and intelIigently. Fifteen min.
utes before dissolution | asked him, DO you
tive signal by raising the forefnger. After
this he made no sign, but slept peacefully tt
| the end"