Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-18
HOW PEOPLE DIE.
The Mental State OF the Dying Entirely
Dependent gpOn Their Physi.
cal Condition.
Consumption and Starving Compare
lively Easy-HydrOphObia and Brain
Fever the Most Painful.

How entirely the mental state Of the dying
depends upon their physical condition mas
been most Clearly shown by Miss Nisntln-
2 ale, whose testimony Is corroborated Dy |
experienced nurses and surgeons on and Oh |
the battlefield. The agony incident upon
the last stages Of some diseases is so acute |
that the most pious sometimes succumb to /
despair. Consumptives very frequently die |
in sersphic Joy aud peace; for their passing |
away is not only comparatively painless, but |
is consequent upon a thorough exhaustion OF |
he system, such as robs even the imagina- |
ton OF ali power Of vivid action, and leaves |
il in a condition 10 receive only faint and |
negative Impressions. In death from old age |
ard kindred causes, where the mind has free |
scope and is neither harrass,d nor disturbed |
in its action By physical pain, the comforting |
assurances of genuine religion are most
clearly manifest. AS a rule, in acute cases,
interest in per.onal danger is seldom felt,
and there is = manifest indiferece, except
log with regard to bodily suffering, or to
some duty the dying man desires to perform.
Cholers, periteniiis and like complaints rob
the Roul of life and plunge it in the deepest
despair. 10 dyseniery, diarrhea or fevers
there is usually mental enHus that amounts
almost TO positive and absolute indifference.
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 lsnenta-
tions and most hideous visions.
DEATH BIZ STEEL.
A rapid death By steel is almost painl5ss.
A bullet lscerates, but saber edge or poin-
ard point divides the nerves too quickly 10
enable them 10 transmit TO the failog brain
distinct and definite sensations OF pain.
Death by drowning is proverbially peaceful.
There is a gradual blottiDg out of conscious
ness. The soul seems TO soak up the water
like sponge, deriving no torment from the
process, and the faculties are severally swal-
lowed up as naturally as when sleep ap-
proaches. Intense cold lays seige TO the
brain, cuts off communication by the nerves,
which become torpid and lose their conduct
ing powers. The imagination and conscious
ness are slike preserved from rude shock. A
cut throat hurts, Of course, but not to an
agonizing degree, although it would appear
other wise 10 those who have heard the sad,
shrill voice OF the pig in like extremity. OF
all acute and protraced diseases smallpox is
oftenest attended by the e1tremest torture,
physical and mental. Especially in hemor-
rhagic cases the patient loses control OF his
, senses. 1t not upfrequently happens that
DTcCSut5 anu IL
sufferer, springing from his bad, PUSHES out
IN the open air utlering shrieks and beating
his body.
YELLow-FEvER
The sudden exposure brings on speedy
dissolution. Yellow-fever, having run its
course, merges into black vomit, and the las
situdc and exhaustion lull the victim into
unconsciousness. Death is comparatively
painless, or rather the torment of the nerves
does not reach the brain. The majority of
the insane throwing off this mortal coil, as
they do, under the Influence of mental delu-
sions, are subject TO excruciating pains.
Bronchial affections terminate in despair.
Death by hanging may or may not be pain
full, according as the miserable wretch drops
straight and breaks his neck, or twists and
strsngles. Choking is the worst agony of
all. The blood departs from its regular
channels and pours through the body a
fruitfal 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
commissions, and the sufferer throws his body
into the shape OF bow. There is writhing
and peculiar cough, which latter is hoarse,
and has given rise 10 the popular supersti-
ton OF the barking of dog. The whites Of
the ewes become sufused with blood. Con-
gestion takes place. Involuntary contrac-
lions of the muscles of the thorax cause
swapping OF the jaws. The most superhumRn
strength is ex Inhibited, and sometimes as u any
as six persons are necessary to con6ne the
dying m an to his bed. The last agonies are
fearful TO witness.
BRAIN FEVER.
In brain fever the nerves, whose irritation
is the source OF all pain, are seized in their
mighty multiplicity, and miles and miles of
acute pain traverse the body in endless success
sion with the rspidity OF lightning. 10 lock-
Jaw, the longer life is sustained By artificial
means the more peaceful comes the period of
final dissolution, where the heart becomes
diseased, and suddenly ceases to exercise it's
functions, except one sharp, short, horribly
hot thrust, like that of dagger, which blinds
like fish and leaves behind no lingering
memory TO torture. Apoplexy is painless,
as is drop.y, in the final stages. Pyemia is
not positively painful. There are many
curious ideas possessed by sane people as to
the proper way 10 die. Sailors expect TO go
to Davy Jones's locker, rocked in the bosom
| of the deep. Hunters hsnker 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
relatives. An engineer longs to be dashed
down an embankment. Newspaper men,
editors and reporters write pbilosophically
of death, but often shirk IFS horrors
by ending their life suddenly. Philosophers
spend weeks in crossing the vale, and COW
ards minutes. And yet celebrated philos.
opher has said, "Whoever sees a dealhbed
sees an arrant coward creeping 10 his doom"
Misers want their pockets full OF gold, which
they forget may melt so soon after they get
away. The truly religious man dies as COM
fortably one way as another, for he has
comforting assurance, not Of human origin.
Still, death has its sting, made doubly
poisonous by superstition, robbed of lis
venom by religion.
Starving is an uncomfortable procedure,
but the snubbed stomach, toward the last,
relents, and the tortured body is relieved
OF pain. There was one man who died
standing. How he felt, he did not live
long enough 10 say. Take it all in all, the
best way 10 die is to sit on a keg OF pow
der and apply q match TO the bupghole.
By this means the tears of relations and
the expense of coffin aud funeral are
alike done away with.