Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
How We Die.

Miss Nightingale, whose testimony Is
corroborated BY experienced nurses and
surgeons on and off the battlefield. The
agony Incident upon the last stages of
some diseases is so acute that the most
pious sometimes succumb to despair.
CONSERVATIVES very frequently die in
seraphic joy and peace, for their pass
ing awav is not only comparatively pain
less but IS consequent upon a thorough
exhaustion of the system, such as robs
even the Imagination of all power of
vivid acton and leaves it in a condition
to receive only faint and negative i'm
pressions. In death from old age and
kindred causes, where the mind has
free scope and is neither h~arrassed nor
disturbed in its action by physical pain,
the comforting assurance of a genuine
religion are most clearly manifest. AS
a rule, in acute cases, interest in per-
sonal danger is seldom felt, and there
is a manifest Indifference, excepting
with regard to bodily suffering, or to
some duty the dying man desires to
perform. Cholera, peritonitis and like
complaints, rob the soul of life and
plunge it in the deepest despair. In
d~ysentery, diarrhea, or fevers there is
usually a mental ennui that amounts
almost to positive and absolute indiffer-
ence. Those who die by the sword or
any sharp instrument preserve peaceful
~countenances, indicating an insidious
stealing away of life's ebbing tide. On
the contrary, gunshot wounds produce
great pains and lamentations, and most
hideous visions.
A rapid death by steel is almost pain
less. A bullet %lacerates, but a saber
edge or poniard point divides the nerves
too quickly to enable them to transmit
to the failing brain distinct and definite
sensations Of pain. Death by drowning
if proverbiallv peaceful. There is a
gradual blotting out of consciousness.
The soul seems to soak up the water
like a sponge, deriving no torment from
the process, and the faculties are sever
ally swallowed up as naturally as when
sleep approaches. Intense cold lays
siege to the brain, cuts off communica-
ton by the nerves, which become torpid
and lose their conducting powers. The
imagination and consciousness are alike
preserved from rude shock. A cut
throat hurts, of course, but not to an
agonizing degree, although it would APP
pear otherwise to those who have heard
the sad, shrill voice of the pig in like
extremity. Of all acute and protracted
diseases smallpox is oftenest attended
by the EXTREMIST torture, physical and
mental. Especially in hemorrhagic
cases, the patient loses control of his
senses. 1t not unfrequently happens
that delirium precedes death, and the
unfortunate sufferer, springing from his
bed, rushes out into the open air, utter
ing shrieks and beating his body.
The sudden exposure brings on speedy
dissolution. Yellow fever, having run
its course, merges into black vomit, and
lassitude and exhaustion lull the victim
into inconsistencies. Death is COM
paratively painless, or, rather, the tor
ment of the nerve does not reach the
brain. The majority of the insane,
throwing off this mortal coil, as they do,
under the influence of mental decisions,
are subject to excruciating pains. Bron-
chial affections terminate in despair.
Death by hanging may, or may not, be
painful, according as the miserable
wretch drops straight and cracks his
neck, or twists and stranglcs. Choking
is the worst agony of ali. The blood
departs from its regular channels, and
pours through the body, a fruitful source
of a million pains, each minute, but well
defined. Hydrophobia, from it's cause,
gives rise to fearful agony. The least
draught of air produces violent convul-
sions, and the sufferer throws his BODY
into the shape of a bow. There is
writhing and a peculiar cough, which
latter is hoarse, and has given rise to the
popular superstition of the barking of a
dog. The whites of the eyes become
suffused with blood. Congestion takes
place. Involuntary c%ontractions of the
muscles of the thorax cause swapping of
the jaws. The most superhuman
strength is exhibited, and sometimes as
many as six persons are necessary to
confine the dying man to his bed, The
last agonies are fearful to witness.
In brain fever the nerves, whose irri.
tation is the source of all pain, are
siezed in their mighty multiplicity, and
miles and miles of acute pain traverse
the body in endless succession, with
the rapidity of light. In lockjaw, the
longer life is sustained by artificial
means the more peaceful becomes the
period of final dissolution, where the
heart becomes diseased, and suddenly
ceases to exercise its functions, EXCEPT
one sharp, short, horribly hot thrust.
like that Of a dagger, which blinds like
a flash, and leaves behind no lingering
memory to torture. ApopIexy is pain:
less, as is dropsy, in the final stages.
Py9mia is not positively painful. There
are many curious ideas possessed by
some people as to the proper wayto die.
Sailors expect to go to Davv Jones's
locker, rocked in the bosom of the deep.
Hunters banker to be shot and abhor a
peaceful death. Priests desire pomp.
Quakers simplicity, and women feel
miserable unless surrounded by a score
or more of weeping friends and rela-
tives. An engineer longs to be dashed
down an embankment. Newspaper
men, editors and reporters write phi.
l%osophically of death, but often shirk
its horrors by ending their life suddenly.
Philosophers spend weeks in crossing
the vale, and towards minutes. And
yet a celebrated philosopher has said
''whoever sees adeath-bed sees an arrant
coward creeping to his DOOM" Misers
want their pockets full of gold, which
fhnv f~,,<s1 oH -.-1A