Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-15
Does Death Sting.

adds the doctor, that numbers would
care less about living were the modes
of leaving the world theme for hap
py contemplation, or an innovation
to the routine of plodding that was
agreeable. One is remarkably ex
empt from the crime of hasty induc-
ton if he affirms that there is no
sane or healthy mortal who antici-
pates his extinction with any degree
of pleasure The function of dying
is absolutely vegetative-we fall to
pieces like flower. This very fact,
that the process is chemical, confirms
us in the conclusion that the final
! ''throe is as painless as the incon-
venience is nothing to the fetal pill
grim when he touches on daylight.
A moments examination of the way
we are to die will show marks of
goodnefs in our taking off. The
degree of sensibility is proportioned
to the integrity of the tissues. An
Inflammation heightens it; age de-
preciatis it. Any defect in nutrition
disturbs the comfort of the individ-
uil until tbs carbonic acid generat-
ed in the devitalization of the blood
becomes fixed in the cells or is no
longer displaced. The sensory gan
glia everywhere part with their ir-
ritability by virtue of this poison,
and cease to conduct currents The
criteria of death are being satisfied, |
and the process is consummated
when this extinction of sensibility |
prevails at the ultimate tilaments. |
Dming the progress of this dissolu-
ton of the nerve force, this creeping
on of the numbness of death, the in
dividual is rapidly passing into con
dition OF repose, and instead of tor
ture or pangs, a degree of self-satis-
faction oft approaching to enthu
siasm is realized The sensation pc
culiar to the theIapeutical operation
of opium, hashish, ether, etc, are l
not improbably akin to the mental |
activities of the dying. Barring the
hallucinations experienced in the
stupor as it gains on the subject, the
moribuld is familiar with naught
that borders on suffering. This car
bonic acid has poisoned or narcotized
the several ganglia, and reflex pro-
ductions are interdicted A con
analgesia prevails. la
short. the notion Of pain is forbidden
the instant that any stimulus fails to
e1cits repose. The condition TO
this irritability is that the nerve cen
ter and track be sound If this Wig
Or vanishes, reflex phenomena are at
an end, and suffering, physiologically
speaking, is impossible, because of
the arrest of the function of the sym.
pathetic. :, I
Fortunately, for wholesome study
Of ones demise, there are assurances
vivisection, the testimony
of those who have been restored to
and the affirmation
Of the dying, that there is no physi-
cal recoil from death. Burney tried
hard to resist the efforts made to
him from drowning. so
beTitched was he by his prolonged
slumber. DR.. Solander, the traveller.
was so delighted with the sensations
Of excessive cold, that he was the
first to lie down in the snow to rea-
lie the luxury of such death. Wm.
was sorry he was not able to
write how easy aud delightful it is
70 die. Infants die as serenely as
hey breate, and not a few among the
advanced in years treat death as
friend to their infrmities Hanging
S naturally rated. next to crucifction
l most distressing procedure. But
t is reported by those who have
been saved from .trangulation, that
1he agony promised to be brief, and {
vas rapidly replaced by hallueinations
Of fascinating variety.
One would fain believe that the
Kind God who suffered US to feel no
sigh in coming would take no delight
n turning our farewell into writhing
nay, he does not quit us at the last. ,
He is our greatest benefactor in al
owing us to sleep out of weariness
Death is, assurediy, no tax collector
is laws" are not the clutches OF an
issailsnt; there is no victory to
he grrve;" the ghost speeds away
rom us MS it entered. with no ruflle. I
The sense Of death, as Shakespeare
mas it, is most in apprehension. 1t is
he fear of the lonely night, not the /
-hroes of nature, that makes the
esying painful
ZAyEsvILLE, Ohio, October 9.-The s
discovery that this section of the
has been infested by grave
yard ghouls has created the greatest |
excitement, and since the robbery of {