The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-02
How We Die.

"The ideal death, said a physician in
charge of one of the city hospitals, WAS
that of my uncle. He was hale, hearty
man of eighty, a bachelor, wealthy, and
surrounded with every comfort In
beautiful home not far from New York.
He had travelled in Europe, and was full
of auecdote and memory OF his long life.
He arose one morning apparently IN per-
Ject health. His buoyancy OF spirits was
noticed. He was singing some OF the
quaint old Scotch songs of his boyhood.
He expected visit from me, and as he
desired to confer with me on matter OF
business, he arose from the table after
hasty and partial meal. saying he would
drive down to the depot, not far away,
and bring NE to the house. He had the
servant bring his ponies to the door and
refused to let the man go with him, say
ing he preferred to drive himself. He
mounted the box and drove of at smart
pace. The old gentleman had not driven
more than few rods from his own house
when he was met by a neighbor who no.
ticed something strange in his appear
ance. His horses stopped. The neigh
Dor dismounted and went to the side Of
his carriage and spoke to him. The old
gentleman did not answer. He sat up
right IN his seat, holding the reins in his
hand. He was dead. He had passed
away without shock of any kind. There
was no apparent cause for his death,
which was probably oocasioned by heart
disease
DR.. L. L. Seaman, physician in chief
of Charity Hospital, BlackwelIs island,
look much interest in observing the
much Wanted death scenes of Sara
Bernhart, and when once started on the
subject he is apt to give judgment of
Abe great actress performances some
what different from the general conclu-
sions of the dramatic critics. Speaking
on this subject the other day, DIR.
Seaman said that Mile. Bernhardt had
seven different ways of dying and all of
them were totally unlike anything he
had ever seen in medical practice COW
ering many thousands of cases of all
kinds of deaths.
''Of course 1 do not hold myself re-
sponsible for the deaths in my hospital
my more that for the births" said DIR.
Seaman. MANY patients come in when
they are in almost the last moments Of
life. Many are known to be absolutely
Beyond the hope of recovery. But my
observation convinces me that the dra-
matists and actors have far over-estimat.
cd the pains of death, and especially the
possibilities of great mental effort just
previous to the moment OF final dissolu-
Aion.
1T is, in fact, about as difficult to tell
when a man dies as to determine when
he goes to sleep. Death is gradual, not
sudden process. l am speaking now of
death by disease. not of violent death.
Possibly in the representation of violent
deaths the actors may come somewhere
Desr the truth, but generally their pic
tures of death by disease arctic one who
knows the truth, simply ridiculous. Dis
solution is as painless and unconscious
- birth. The approach to it may be
protracted and peinful. There may be
long and agonizing scenes resulting
from disordered Imagination. Death de-
stroys one organ after another, not all at
once. The last organ to yield are the
lungs, which show the oppression in the
breathing and produce what is termed
4he death rattle. As soon as the lungs
o ase to act tie venom blood Is not
changed to red artificial blood, but it is
propelled unpuri6ed from the
heart and thus poisons the body like
narcotic. The energies Of the brain are
Yr4unalIy lulleu rs III zine dppfO6Cu VI
sleep, aud unconscious cerebral action
prod uces the murmur of the names of
friends, of the recollections OF past life.
or reference to what ever has passed
through the mind. But that there is
pain in natural Death have long since
eeass d to ri eve "
A veteran physician, speaking on this
snbiect, recently said Judging OF the
ihonghts of men by their words just
previous to death, l should say it often
happens that a dying person gives no
indication of thought upon q subject
that has been the favorite topic OF life
anne. I bave known active business
men with important affairs unattended
10, who died with words upon their lips
that indicated Absorption in some Incl
dent of the moment, generally relating
50 personal comfort. II was that sort OF
death that Washington Irving died,
saying, We'll, I must arrange my pill
lows for another weary night; ii this
could only end Long suffering under
the affections OF painful disease will
Serve to divert the mind Of the strong
st Even the philosopher Ben Frank
lin was forced to say with his last
breath, A dying man can do nothing
easy 1t Is very Common thing Tor
wing persons to express sympathy with
attendants who have been fatigued in
attending them. Among them the last