The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-16
DOES DEATH STING?
The Cold Physiological Facts Respecting the
Going Out of Life.

Going Out of Life.
DIR. G. L. Beardsley, in the Medical and Sur
gical Reporter, concludes that the dread Of diving
is quite as intense as the instinct of self -preser-
walton. Indeed. it is not improbable, adds the
Doctor, that numbers would care less about liv-
ing were the modes of leaving the world a theme
for happy contemplation. or an innovation to the
routine of Flooding that was agreeable. One is
remarkably exempt from the crime of hasty in
duction if he afirms that there is no saus or
healthy mortal who anticipates his extinction
with any degree of pleasure. The function Of
dylng Is absolutely vegetative-we fall to pieces
IKE a Hover. This very fact. that the process
is chemical, confirms us in the conclusion that
the hnal "throe" Is as painless as the inconveni-
ence is nothing to the fetal pilgrim when he
touches on daylight. A moments examination
OF the way we are to die will show
marks OF goodness in our taking off, Tie
degree of sensibiity is proportional to the IN
tegrity of the tissues. An height
ems it; age depreciates it. Any defect. in nHtri-
ton disturbs the comfort of the Individual until
the earbonic acid generated in the devitalIzation
OF the blood becomes fixed in the cells or is no
longer displaced. The sensory ganglia every
where part with their irritability by virtue of
this poison, and cease to conduct currents. The
criteria of death are being satisfied. and the pro-
cess IS consummated when this extinction of
senslbllty prevails at the ultimate flaments
During the progress OIL the dissolution of L}e
nerve force, this creeping on of the numHness OF
death, the individual is rapidly passing into d.
condition of repose, and instead of torture or
pangs, a degree of self satisfaction oft approach
ing to enthusiasm is realized. The sensations
peculiar to the therapeutical operation. of opium,
hasheesh, ether, etc, ara not improhablv akin to
the mental activities of the dying. Barring
the hallucinations experienced in the
stUpor, as it gains on the subject. the moribund
is familiar with naught that borders on suffer
ing. This carbonic acid gas has poisoned or mar
cotiZed the several gangiia. and the reflex nro-
ductions are interdicted. 4 anal
gesia prevails. In short. the notion of pain is
forbidden the instant that any stimulus fails to
excite a response. The condition to this irrita-
b11ty is that the nerve center and track he
sound. If this vigor vanishes, reflex phenomena
are at an end, and suffering, physiologically
speaking, is impossible, because of the arrest Of
the functions of the sympathetic.
Fortunately, for d wholesome study of ones
demise, there are assurances abundant, from
vivisection, the testimony of those who have
been restored to consciousness, aud the afirmA-
ton of the dying, that there is no physical re-
coil from death. Burney tried hard to resist the
efforts made to resuscitate him from drowning,
so bewitched was he by the prolonged slumber.
DR.. Solander, the traveller, was so delighted
with the sensations of excessive cold that he was
the hrst to lie down in the snow to realize tho
luxury of such a death. William Hunter was
sorry he was not able to write how easy
and delightful it is to die" Infants die rs
serenely ashley breathe, and not q few among
the advanced in years treat death as a friend To
their infrmities. Hanging is naturally rated,
next to crucifxion, a most distressing procedure.
But it is reported of those who have been saved
from strangulation, that the agony promised to
be brief, and was rapidly replaced by hallucina.-
ton of n fascinating variety.
One would fain believe that the kind God wl,o
suffered us to feel no sigh in coming would take
no delight in turning our farewell into writing
nay, he does not quit US at the last. He is oar
greatest benefactor in allowing us to sleep ont
of WEAKNESS. Death is, assuredly, no tax cell
lector; its Jaws" are not the clutches of an as
s%ailant; there is no victory to the graves" the
ghost speeds away from us as it entered, with no
ruffie. The sense of death, as Shakespeare has
it, is most in apprehension. It is the fear of tte
lonely night, not the throes of nature, that
makes the leaving painful.