St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-08-15
Painless Death.
THE PROCESS OF PHYSICAL DIssoLU
TON UNATTENDED WITH PAIN.

A writer in the Medical and Sur
gical Reporter concludes that the
dread of dying is quite as intense
as the instict of self-preservation.
Indeed, it is not improbable that
numbers would care less about iv-
ing were the modes Of leaving the
world theme for happy contemp- |
lation, or an innovation to the rou-
tine Of plodding that was agreeable.
One is remarkably exempt from
the crime of hasty induction if he
afirms that there is no sane or
healthy mortal who anticipates the
extinction with any degree of pleas
ure. The function of dying is alb
solutely vegetative-we fall to
pieces like flower. This very fact
that the process is chemical, con-
firms us in the conclusion that the
final "throe'' is as painless as the
inconvenience is nothing to the foe
tai 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.
The degree eff sensibility proper
toned to the integrity of the tissues
An inflammation heightens it /; age
depreciates it. Any defect in nu-
triton disturbs the comfort of the
individual until the carbonic acid
generated in the LIBERALIZATION Of
!, the blood becomes fixed in the cells
or is no longer displaced. The SEN
sorry ganglia everywhere part with
their irritabilaty by virtue OF this
poison, and cease to conduct cur
7 rents. The eriteria of death are
being satisfied, and the process is
;; consummated when this extinction
: Of sensibility prevails at the ulti-
;, ! mate flaments.
: During the progress of this dis
! solution Of the nerve force, this
! creeping Of the numbness Of death,
: the individual is rapidly passing
/ into condition of repose, and in
3 stead Of torture or pangs o degree
Of dissatisfaction oft approaching
to enthusiasm is realized. The SEN
d sations peculiar to the therapeutic
cal operation Of opium, hasheesh,
ether, etc., are not improbably akin
I to the mental activities Of the dy-
= ling. Barring the hallucinations ex-
! perienced in the stupor, as ii gains
! On the subject, the moribund is ia
] miliar with naught that borders or
! suffering. This carbonic acid has
+ poisoned or narcotized the seyera
& ganglia, and reflex productions are
d interdicted. A consumate analge
1 STA prevails. In short, the notion
Of pain is forbidden the instant thai
any stimulus fails to excite res
n ponse. The condition to this irri
. liability is that the nerve centre ane
9 track be sound. IL this yigor van
. :: ishes, reflex pneumonia are at Al
: end, and suffering, physiological.
= speaking, is impossible, because
:, Of the arrest or the function of th,
e sympathetic.
. Fortunately, for a wholesome
f study Of ones demise, there are as
e surances abundant from yivisection
is the testimony OF those who hay'
:. been restored to consciousness, ant
lr the affirmation of the dying tina
IS there is no physical recoil from
y death. Bunny tried hard to resus
j, citate him from drowning, SO be
1t witched was he by his prolonge,
y slumber. DIR. Solander, the travel
er, was SO delighted with the sensa
!; ton of excessive cold that he wa
II the first to lie down in the snow t
= realize the luxury of such deatE
20 William Hunter was sorry he wa
q not able to write how easy an
to delighted it is to die. Infants di
8: as serenely as they breathe, and nc
is a few among the advanced in year
IL treat death as friend to their in
of frmites. Hanging is NATURAL
ne rated next to cruciixion, mos
distressing procedure. But it
reported of those who have bee
er saved from strangulation, that th
y agony promised to be brief, and wa
ne replaced by hallucination of
- - fascinating variety. One woul
y ILL Az I'LL I'll -,L