The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-28

10, 100000 a year. 1t requires no special
effort of the mind to grasp the fact that TO
place a few feet beneath the surface
of the earth such masses of fes-
tering corruption is liable to
result disastrously to the living, and that
such is the case science has demonstrated
beyond all controversy. Under such cir
cumstances it is entirely rational that the
subject Of cremating the dead should secure
special attention in Europe. The Pail Mall
Gazette refers to the subject, remarking that
if cremation were popular in Europe it is
not practicable nor possible. 1t says:
Even at Milan the number OF cremstions does
not exceed 100 per annum. The report that NJ.
Georges Martin on ''the Proposition Cadet" sub
mitted to the Municipal Council of Paris. con-
tains the latest and most trustworthy informa-
ton on the subject of cremation. u. Martin
agrees with NJ Cadet that cremation IN short
time viii be regarded as the only possible solu
ton of a problem which in great cities is ever In
creasing in urgency; but he contents himself
with proposing that for the present cremation
should be rendered optional. The crematory,
however, is as yet but in early stage of develop
probable much nearer approach to perfection
may be made than has yet been attained. The
regenerative furnace of II. Siemens, AT Dresden,
only cost ESQ., and is one Of the best Yeti
vented. Combustion is effected by heated
air, aud the process is very rapid. The Brunette
crematory is complicated and slow. 1t takes four
hours to consume a body, and necessitates a con-
sumption of a hundred-weight of wood. The
most CHASTITY of all the apparatus of cremation is
the Kilborn, which is devised for use on the field
of battle. In this dreadful machine as many as
twelve bodies can be burned at one time, the
operation lasting from an hour to an hour and
half. A dozen Kilborns working day and night
could disposed of $500 corpses in tweRtyfour,
hours. Thirty yearsago it was proposed to dispose
of bodies by passing them into gas retorts, and
since then many inventors have sought to use
gas as the agent for reducing them to their
elements. The apparatus Of NM. Pollica and
Clericetti, in which many cremations have
taken place, is one of those in which gas is used
much on the principle Of an ordinary gas
oven. The process is complete in an hour and
half, and the charge is 2Of. On altogether diff
ferent principle is the crematory of Professor
Paolo Gorini, of Lodi. He processes TO be able
completely TO destroy a human body in twenty
minutes, at a cost of 50, by immersing it in a
chemical solution heated 10 high temperature.
The composition of this solution he keeps strict
secret, but chronic acid is believed to be of
its chief ingredients. The best known crematory
in Europe is that erected by NJ. Keller in the
Cemetery of Milan. In this monumental Gre
matOry" two bodies can be consumed at time
without producing any odor. The process, which
is completed in an hour, can be watched through
small glazed openings, and at the close the sur
vivors can carry home with them four or five
litres of fine ashes weighing about sixty ounces.
The cost varies from 15f to Psf.
What is true of Europe is also true Of
the United States. As general proposition,
is regarded with sentiments akin
to horror in this country, and though the |
process is becoming less repulsive, it will re-
quire years of enlightened discussion to
bring the American mind into a condition
to regard with favor the establishment of
crematories. Our popalation is not yet suf-
iclently dense to create alarm. The people |
are not yet ready to listen with patience to |
the pernicious effects of decaying animal |
matter upon the public health. We take |
great pride in the cities of the dead. As
people we are ambitious TO have cemeteries |
rs renowned for beauty as the Campo |
Santo, OF Pisa, or the Pierre la Chaise, of |
Of Paris; and in this regard we have made |
Roadway, as Mount Auburn,
near Boston; Greenwood, near Brooklyn, |
and Laurel Hill, near Philadelphia, abund-
emily testify. But the time will come when
ashes and urns will take the place Of graves |
and monuments; when pride will give place |
10 prudence; when regard for the welfare of |
The living will overmaster sentimental de-
votion to the dead; when fire will give to the |
living the mountaineering dust of the dead, |
and the imperishable urn will hold the
sacred treasure until, with the rolling years,
of the loved ones vanish.