The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-08-03


THE DYING SUFFER BUT LITTLE PAIN.
Capt. Marryatt states that hIs sensa-
tions at one time when nearly drowned
were rather pleasant than otherwise.
"The first struggle for life once over
the water closing around me assumed
the appearronce of waving green
, fields. 1t is not a feeling of pain, but
seems like sinking down, overpowered
by sleep, in the long, soft grass Of the
cool meadow" a..
The last topic for consideration Is
the pseudopia of death, or
VISIONS OF THE DYING.
This subject, coming under the realm
of mental science, properly belongs to
metaphysics rather. than to physiology.
Various theories have been advanced
to explain these phenomena, but they
must remain as hypothesis at bes t, for
they are not susceptible of demOnstra-
ton. 1t is not an uncommon occur
renee for the dying, after lying some
hours in a semiconsciOus condition, to
start up suddenly, and, with glowing
face, point eagerly to some object in
visible to the bystanders, and with ami
mated voice and gesture state that
they behold the glories of heaven, or
the familiar countenance of some friend
long since dead.
The question naturally arises as to
whether these conditions are merely
the fantasies of a disordered aud dis
organizing brain, or are the dying
actually permitted momentary view
of the mysteries hitherto unknown
The traditions and superstitions of
the past have led to a popular belief in
the latter theory. Shakspere express
ed the sen iment of his day when he
PLACED in the mouth of the dyirg Queen
Katharin" these words:
Saw you not even now a blessed troop
Invite me to a banquet whose bright faces
Cast thousand beams upon me like the sum-
Science, with its iconoclastic herd,
has
SWEPT AWAY THESE PLEASING FANCIEs,
and in their place has constructed "a
fabric founded on analogy. la the
anes h"sia induced by chloroform
condition is produced closely res m
bling that immediately preceding
death (caused by the carbonic acid
poisOning), in which visions are con-
stantly presented to the mind, the
character of which depends upon the
natural temperament of the individual.
Thus it often occurs that a patient,
when under the influence of chlOro-
form, has beatiic visions similar to
those of the dying. 1t is my misfOr-
tune to have at present a patient who
invariably when under the influence
of chl7rOform, asserts that she sees
angels lowering round her bed. The
impression is SO strong that she be-
comes much annoyed if the reality 70
these visions is disputed. The as
phyxia produced by burning charcoal
is Ofttimes accompanied by disturbed
fancies similar to those preceding
death; and the natural inference Is
that they are the resultant in both
cases of one and the same cause. Dur
ing the last moments of life the mind
gradually lOsese cognizance of exter-
nal surroundings, and is
RAPT IN SELF CONTEMPLATION,
Though still in semi-cOnscious con-
dition, the weeping Of friends and the
voices of attendants fall upon dull
ears. The eyelids are closed; the pu-
pills slightly contracted and rolling up
ward and inward. The dying man has
forgotten the present. for he is living
in the past. One by one the events of
a whole life appear; its joys and sOr-
rows, perchance long since forgotten,
rise before him in startling distinct
ness, and then disappear in the swift
ly moving panOramI. The familiar
faces of the friends of his youth are
thrown upon the mental retlna, their
cherry voices reVcrbeFate in his ears,
and the the thought of meeting these
| friends in the near future IS, perhaps,
his last conscious impre sion. AS this
drOwsiness crecps over the system
| these Images, nodded from the past,
become as realities TO the disOrdered
Imagination. The germs fram ~hloh
| originate theze strange combinations
have probably been lying dormant for
years in the registering ganglia "f the
brain.
Dreams never sIrpr SO us, no matter
how strange the scenery presented or
how great the violation of truth anI
vcracity; so it is in
THIS GREAT LAST VISION OF LINZ
What %OndeF that a dream SO vivid
should be carried into actiOn2 Tue
brain, with a cOnvulsive effort, sends
the message through the system, the
muscles spring into activity, and the
dying man, with Outstretched arms,
calls the attention of the awe-stricken
bystanders to these phantasies of his
own brain. Thus some pass away as
though falling asleep; others with a
sigh, grOan or gasp, and some with a
convulsiVe struggle.
These death-bed visions are COM
paratiVely of frequent occurrence, and
are generally accepted as realities. The
theory which we pFonulgate, though
not new, will naturally excite preju-
dice; but it is better to know the truth
than to cherish belief, however pleas
ing it be, founded on error.