The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-03
CREMATION.
Arguments Advanced In Favar of the
Pagan Rite.
New York Cor. Cincinnati Gazette.

3 fWkUm hlte
" New York Cor. Cincinnati Gazette.
The New York Cremation society, which
Is growing rapidly in members, held meet
irg in Cooper institute last evening 10 listen
20 lecture on 1.-The Disposal of the Dead, u
Plea for Cremation" by Edward J. Berming-
ham, Nj. d. Among the gentlemen present
were d.. IL NJ. Wells, United States navy;
Medical Inspector Bloodgood, United States
navy; and Joseph NJ. Half, United States
&army. A number of officers Of the army
d and navy were proposed for membership.
After TIE routine business was transacted
DR.. Bloodgood was introduced rs the speaker
of the evening" He thought the most enthu.
siastio opponents OF cremalion,a aud The stropg-
est adherents Of the form of burial now in
general US, were simply those who were csr-
ried away by sentimentalism, love Of old
customs, and desire IT. the old fashioned
WAY to pSy = list token Of respect to the de-
parted dead ones. He hoped that by the
mere recital of the facts II spirit Of inquiry
would be awakened which was all that was
needed to convince the most skeptieal Of the
actual danger to health and life 1t was
generally acknowledged that the air inhaled
from the dead, if bresthod in conceu, rated
form, would prove fatal, and that even when
diluted by the surrounding atmosp,rs it
would lower the standard of health. Analy-
sis of the sir 10 grsveyards has given posi-
tive proof of its deleterous nslure. In
vaults the aic contains carbonic acid. car
of in hNl rs Il. /,
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 l. 900 caused great feebenes,
of circulation, while respiration was Quick.
eDed. These effects were perceplible when
the smonnt was as low as one volume Der
1000. The diseases that prevail in and
near graveyards are dysentery, throat
i in speaking of the prevalence of disease in
houses bordering close on the old city grave
yards of London, states that in the cholera
/ epidemic of lS49 the disease was especially
virulent and fata! among the inhabitants of
these houses, and that no cases recovered, and
that all other diseases in these localities as.
sumed very violent md unfavoIable type.
The records of the French Academy of
I"euiG'ho poar essVhlony 10 the lact That the
putrid emanalions from cemeteries had
caused irShliui diseases OF the throat and
n lung, TO winch numbers OF both sexes fall
n V!clins every year, There are many cases
\ OF disease on record produced by the opening
OF graves The speedy growth of cemeteries
requires new methods OF disposing OF the dead.
Lhere Is an Increase IN the size Of such Gem,
eIeiies as Greenwood, calvary, Cypress Hill
ma others. What great injury the emena-
lions coming from lhom vii do to the neigh
poring communities, and now many will be
sur'eu IN .ne same cemeteries from whose
loul ouoTs tney csuPnt the diseases which
caused lneir death. Ia well filled GENE
!elies .he earth frequently oecomes.so sstura-
yea Wlh lhe pusFia corpses That 1t cannot
leceiVe more, ana throws OIL an eilluvis that
ueauly' nhu IL IS SAFE 10 say mat tho lives
VI srane u,Ssers arc shortened one, third by
aosorping these poisonous odors. The water
from wen near agraveyaId must be con-
aliina1eH' pysen'ery Is almost always im-
lieulsleiy caused by drinking water which
mas passed through graveyard, and sections
q VINO nave churches under winch there are
Vamits are very subject TO levers.