The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-04-07
CurmATrOn.
Arguments Advanced In g.vor 81 the
Pagan Rite.
New York Cor. Cincinnati Gazette.

New York Cor. Cincinnati Gazette.
The New York Cremation society, which
Is growing rapidly In mombers held meet
ing in Cooper institute lsst evening to listen
To lecture on 1.-THE Disposal Of tho Dead, a
Plea for Cremation" by Edward j. Berming-
ham, M. ID. Among the gentlemen present
were DR.. II. M. Wells, United States navy;
Medical Inspector Bioodgood United States
navy; and Joseph M. Haliff, United States
army. A number Of officers Of the army
and navy were proposed for membership.
After the routine business was transacted
Dr. Bloodgood was introduced as the speaker
of the evening. He thought the most enthu-
siastic opponents of cremation, and the strong
est adherents Of the form Of burial now in
general use, we're simply those who were car
ried away by sentimentslism, love of old
customs and desire iE the old-fashioned
way to pay last token of respect to the de-
parted dead ones. Ha hoped that by the
mere recital of the facts spirit OF inquiry
would be awakened which was all that was
needed TO convince the most skeptical OF the
actual danger to health and life. 1t was
generally acknowledged that the air inhaled
from the dead, if breathed in concentrated
form, would prove fatal, and that even when
diluted by the surrounding atmosphere it
would lower the standard of health. Analy-
sis of the air in graveyards has given posi-
tive proof of its deleterious nature. In
vaults the cir contains csrbonic acid, car
Donate of ammonium, hydro-sulpb
acid, and organic matter, of which the fungi
and germs Of infusoria abound. DR.. Angus
Smith has found that three volumes OF car
bonic acid per / 900 caused great feebleness
oecirculation, while respiration was quick"
ened. These effects were perceptible when
the amount was as low as one volume per
1000. The diseases that prevail in and
near graveysrds are dysentery, throat
diseases and fevers. DR.. Parkes,
in speaking of the prevalence of disease in
houses bordering close on the old city grave
wards of London, states that in the cholera
epidemic of 1849 the disease was especially
yirulent and fatal among the inhabitants of
+ these houses, and that no cases recovered, and
thai all other diseases in these localities as
sumed q very violent and unfavorable type.
The records Of the French Academy OF
Medicine bear testimony to the fact that the
putrid emsnations from cemeteries had
caused frightful diseases of the throat and
lungs, to which numbers of both sexes fall
victims every year. There are p""v cases
of disease on record produced by pening
of graves. The speedy growth 81 ~ 'teries
requires new methods of disposing dead.
There is an increase 10 the size &. IN cem-
eteries as Greenwood, Calvary, Cypress Hill
and others. What great injury the enema
tions coming from them will do to the neigh
boring communities, and how many will be
buried in the same cemeteries from whose
foul odors they caught the diseases which
caused their death. La well filled ceme-
teries the earth frequently becOmes..so satura-
ted with the putrid corpses tibet it cannot
receive more, and throws OFT an etiluvia that
is deadly, and it is safe to say that tho lives
of grave diggers are shortened one third by
absorbing these poisonous odors. The water
from we'll near graveyard must be con.
tsminated. Dysentery is almost always i'm
medistely caused by drinking water which
So passed through graveyard, and sections
no have churches under which there are
vaults are very subject to fevers.
The objection to cremation is simply a
feeling of horror at having ones near and
dear one burned. II is founded on rever-
ence for the dead, aud = desire 10 reverence
their memories. These sre objections which
| mus % remoVeu' L no seuNluloubhlIsbS arc
Mortified by fire, and some say it is con.
demned BY the saying that all
bodies will be raised on the last
day, but the scriptures do not condemn it.
Ii it we're, so it would be with the martyrs
and apostles VINO died at the stake. Besides,
is it not plesssnter TO know that the re-
mains, while burning, are passing back to
the elements from which they came, and is il
not pleasant, after cremation, to gather the
handful of sshes which are left, put them in
handsome jar where they will be odorless
and inofiensive, beautiful sight to look
upon, and revive only pleasant memories,
rather than reflect that they are putrid and
offensive objects under ground, under tomb
stores which may not mark the last resting
places for many years, and all traces OF
them may finally be LOST The services
around grave are tender and sweet, but
the ceremony Of cremation, IL it is properly
understood and solemnly conducted, is nc
oct of disrespect 90 the dead, and the jars
containing their remains may be left 10 the
church for centuries. Graveysrds Their
would become bright, beautiful and heathful
| gaIdens.
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