The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-02
THE ACT OF DYING.
How People Feel When Lifc's Inst Chord
Snaps.

Sir Benjamin Brodic, Professor OF
Chemistry in the University of Oxford
and an eminent English scientist, in on
interesting work, entitled ARCHAEOLOGICAL
Inquiries" gives tho following results of
his professional experience of the last
moments of life:
Really, according to my observation,
the mere act of dying is seldom, in any
sense of the word, very painful pro
cess. 1t is true that some persons die in
a state of bodily torture, as in cases
of totanus; that tho drunkard dying of
dclirium tremcns is haunted by terrible
visions, and that the victim of that most
horrible of all diseases, hydrophobia, in
addition to those peculiar bodily suffer
ings from which the disease has derived
its name, may be III state of terror
rom the supposed presence of frightful
objects, which are presented to him as
realities, even to the last. But these
and some other instances which might
adduce are exceptions to the general rule
which is, that both mental and bodily
suffering terminates long before the scene
is finally closed. This as to tho actual
fear of death: 1t seems to me that tho
Author of our existence, for the most part
gives it to us when it is intended that VIC
should live, and takes it away from us
when it is intended that we should die
Those who have been long tormented by
bodily pein are generally rs anxious tc
lie as they ever were to live. So it
often is with those whose life hes been
protracted to an extreme old age, be-
yond the usual period of mortality, even
when they labor under no actual disease.
1t il not very common for any one to
die merely of old age:
"Likc ripe fruit to drop
Into his mothers lap"
But [ have known this to happen; and
happy conclusion it has seemed to be
Of worldly cares and joys. 1t was like
falling to sleep, never to wake again in
his state of existence. Some die rr-
aiming all their faculties, and quite
ware that their dissolution is at hand.
Others offer no recognition of external
objects, so that it is impossible for us to
form any positive opinion whether they
10 or do not retain their sensibility; and
others again, as | have already stated
who appear to bc insonsible and un.
conscious when carefully watched, are
found not to be so in reality; but thoy
die contentedly. | have myself ncvcl
known but two instances in which, IN
The act of dying, there were manifest
Indications of the fear of death. The
| individuals to whom l allude were unex-
prctedly destroyed by hemorrhagc,
which, from peculiar circumstances
which I need not now explain, it was
impossible to suppress. The depressing
effects which the gradual loss of blood
produced on their corporal system
seemed to influence their minds, and
they died earnestly imploring that relief
which art was unable to afford. Seneca
might have chosen an easier death than
from opening his arteries.
"Whnt I have said refers only to the
last stage in the process of dssoIution
There is no doubt that n pure and simple
religious faith and firm reliance On
the being who has placed us here, con-
tribute more than anything besides to
disarm death Of its tcrrors, deprive the
grave of its victory and smooth the
passage of the humble and sincere
believer 10 the termination of his
worldly career. Nevertheless, according
t" my own experience, and what / have
heard from others, the influence of
religious feelings is, for the most part,
not SO much prrccptibe at the moment
when death is actually impending, as it
is at IN earlier period, when the indi-
vidual. who was previously in health, or
supposed himself to be 80, first discovers
that it is probable he will die"