The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-05
CREMATION IN ITALY.

MILAN, Oct. 16.-In one corner OF the
Cimiterio Monumentale at Milan il situated the
Protestant burying ground. a small but pic
turesque portion of this large resting place of
the dead Conspicuous among the few graves
to be found there. and occupying the centre OF
the plot. stands an imposing monument. erect
ed To the memory Of the noble cavalier AL
berto Keller di Kellerer. born in Rome Sept 20.
1900; died in Milan Jan. 20. 1874" who built.
at his own expense the first crematory in Mi
Ian. and presented it to the city. The front OF
the monument is occupied by u large figure OF
an angel in white marble. holding in its hand a
Italy by Gorini at Lodi. but the popularity and
repute which It now enjoys, both among Roman
Catholics Cat and Pretestants. are largely due to
the efforts OF ID kellerer had long been de-
srous OF witnessing the process which, by the
way. Is almost Invariably performed. only in
ceased. and at last found an opportunity to
Gratiiy my curiosity through the Kindness of n
ent for purely scientific reasons.
Cremation is employed as have intmated.
very frequently throughout Italy. and crema:
with all large cemeteries. Here in Milan the
crematory is a moderate sized. but very suit
eeed tie fSrther sEa Of the
Cimiterio Molumentale. opposite TO the elab-
9paf fiat th9 fSs still unfinished entrance
death. and when cremation is resorted to
succeeding the funeral. the body being placed
IN a rsseiSng vault over might The body
about 50 years Old who had deesied In
his will that his remains should be thus dis
posed Of. The crematory. consists of ;hres
the body s prepared for the operation another.
opening from and connected with this in
which the crematorial apparatus is placed. and
the third. opening from this again. in which
stands the furnace. The body e placed on a
movable mo, platform OF iron about six BY tive
so as to be directly on a level with the opening
IN the crematoral apparatus. which is in the
with the exception OF the opening in the end
facing the main room. through which the body
watched. For the latter purpose an opening
about ;I three inches square il also made in the
The furnace having been heated to the
requisite temperature. tho platform, on which
waited pieces of terra Gotta SO that it may not be
In direct contact with the iron bed plate be-
is by q ,Ssn sy Of
OF cremation at once commences The fire itself
does not in any way touch the body. but crema-
hot gases generated by the burning wood in the
furnace, introduced through several short
orally employed are more or less aromatic in
their nature. During the whole process the
only odor perceptible in the building was that
arising from the fuel consumed. and the effect
on me- was exactly that which have often eN-
perienced from the burning Of the pastiles so
often used in cases Of sickness. The time OF
cremation varies from three to four hours and
the completion OF the process is easily deter
pearance Of the body, which generally retains
to marked degree its normal form until the
platform is removed to the main room. where.
when exposed to the cold air. 1t soon crumbles,
and the ashes alone remain. All il thus re-
duced except the skull and the two thigh bones.
the carn9y sahered
gether and placed in an urn-like receptacle
and delivered to the relatives for burial.
In this particular case. which have been as
sured gave very correct idea OF all cremn-
tions. can only say that there was nothing re-
voting to the senses-nothing in any way to
suggest to the mind Of the living any desecra-
ton Of the remains of the dead. Everything
was done in u decorous. solemn manner: every
regard was naid in the handling Of the remains.
before and after cremation. to delcacy and de-
cency. Without venturng an opinion as to
whether cremation Is to be encouraged or not.
can only note the fact that it has certainly not
fallen into disuse in Italy. but. on the contrary
is becoming day by day the more favored
method OF disposing OF the remains 81 the de-
parted H. J. c.