The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-29
Cremation.
IN. Y. Tlmcs

The new crcmatOry at Mount oliyet, on Long ISL
and, is almost ready for use. few years ago the
nciueratlon Of dead body in the furnace Of WASH
ngton Pa, was notable event, aud descriptions Of
the process were published far and wide. Now 1t Is
said that forty bodies awaiting the completion Of
the furnace on Long Island. The disposal Of the
dead by cremation has lost It's novelty, and those
who direct that their bodies shall be burned are no
longer regarded az dementea, or even as eccentric:
and almost without number. They are peculiarly
fcrcibic with regard TO the disposition OF the dead
Ia cities. The dangers attending the burial Of the
dead In towns or III any place near the habatons Of
the living were recognized by the ancents, but In
some of the most advanced Of modern civilized
vival of sanitary science directed attention to them.
The prohibition OF intramural interment In great
cities to-day, and the care with which the sources OF
public water supply are sought at distance from
graveyards. are among the proofs that show great
and sautary change In public sentiment upon this
| subject. The establishment Of new cemetery in
Queens County was prevented few days ago for
the reason that the burial of the dead In the place
selected might contaminate the water used by the
people of Brooklyn.
The danger to the living that lies in the graves Of
the dead has been shown in countless cases. The
germs OF disease lie dormant in the soil for many
years. Decomposition may poison the air or the
water within snort time after burial or the deadly
passed. The plague liz Modena, In 1927, was caused
by the upheava of soil in which the bodies of those
years before had been buried. The germs of yellow
fever fill the soil OF the cemeteries In Rio Janero,
WHeEC tHe SlClllnS OF tiut disease were inferred
years ago. Apidemics are aggravated and even
caused by the disturbance of soil polluted In this
way. "1housands OF human lives have been cut
Short says Sir Henry Thompson, "by the poison Of
| slowly decayiDg and oftentimes diseased animal
matter. The continuance OF pestl!ence has often
been due mainly TO the poisonous influence of the
buried dead.n
II all dead bodies could he inferred where they
could not lnjure the living the chief objection to In
hunation would lose its force. But when we have
forbidden the burial OF the dead In cities, and have
provided suburban cemeteries for their reception
the rapid and frequently unforeseen growth of the
city soon reaches those cemeteries and they become
great city of New York ceaGeiessly undermining
| the health of the living.
II ~ said that ncineration - lrreverenf and indie
cent But 1t Is possible to dispose OF the dead as
| reverently and as decenily in this way as in any
other. Nor can 1t fairly be urged that 1t is pro-
GEES that must be regarded as more repulsve than
Illumination. The horrors OF the grave are unutier-
venture say that If the slow process of decompO-
stiOn In the grave were not concealed, II 1t could be
seen aud followed by the living the number Of those
who advocate the use of fire, the great purifier,
case the process Is one of combustion In one 1t Is
rapid and perfect, leaving germ OF disease for
those who live In the other is GLOW, repulsive,
and full OF danger to lfe
ton is that the burning Of the body may serve to
| shield murderers from punishment When the body
has been reduced to ashes 1t Is no longer possible
for the chemist 10 find the poison by means OF which
vocates of inclneraion say that this objection may
be removed II aut0pses are made in all where
there is suspicion OF foul play 1t Is plain, how
ever, that such precautions cannot rem0ve 1t, for
after the death of The victim 1t cannot he denied
that cremation may, in many cases, prevent the
punishment of murderers. DO the advantages at
tending IRE burial outweigh this objection?