The clarion., 1885-09-23
Does Death Sting.

DIR. G. L. Beardsley, in the Medical
and Surgical Reporter, concludes that
the dread OF dying is quite as intense
as the instinct of self preservation. In
deed. it is not improbable, adds the doc
tor, that numbers would care less about
living were the modes of leaving the
world theme of happy contemplation,
or an innovation to the routine OF plod
ding that was disagreeable. One Is re-
markably exempt from the crime OF hasty
induction if he affirms that there is no
sane or healthy mortal who anticipates
his extinction with any degree of pleas
ure. 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 conclu-
sion that the final ''throe" is as pain |
less as the inconvenience is nothing to /
the facial pilgrim when he touches on !
daylight. A momen6s examination of /
the way we are to die will show
marks of goodness in our taking !
off. The degree Of sensibility is |
proportioned to the integrity of the
tissues. An Inflammation heightens it.
Any defect in nutrition disturbs the
comfort of the individual until the car
bonic acid generated in the devitaliza-
tion of the blood becomes fixed in the
cells or is no longer displaced. The SEN
sorry gangila everywhere part with their
irritability by virtue of this poison, and
ceased to conduct currents. The crl-
terra of death are being satisfied, and the
process is consummated when this extinc-
tion of sensibility prevails at the ulti.
mate filament. During the progress of
this dissolution of the nerve force, this
creeping on Of the numbness of death, the
individual is rapidly passing into con-
ditiou of repose, and instead of torture
or pangs, a degree of self dissatisfaction
oft approaching to enthusiasm is
| realized The sensations peculiar to
the therapeutical operation of opium;
hashish, ether, ETC., are not lmproo-
ably akin to the mental activities OF
| he dying. Barring the hallucinatlons
experienced in the stupOr as it gains on
the subject, the moribund Is familiar
with naught that borders on suffering.
This carbonic acid has poisoned or mar
cotized the several ganglia, and reflex
productions are interdlcted. A con-
summate analgesia prevails. In short,
the notion of pain is forbidden the
instant that any stimulus fills to excite
a response. The condition to this irrlta-
bility is that the nerve center and track
be sound. If this vigor vanishes, reflex
phenomena are at an end, and suffering,
physiologically speaking, is Impossible,
because of the arrest of the function OF
the sympathetic.
Fortunately, for wholesome study
of ones demise, there are assurances
abundant, from viviseetion, the testl
mony of those who have been restored
! to consciousness, and the affirmations o:
the dying, that there is no physical re
: coil from death. Burney tried hard to
resist the efforts made to recusltate him
from drowning, so bewitched was he by
: his prolonged slumber. DIR. Solander
the traveller, was so delighted with the
sensations of excessive cold that he wa'
the first to lie down in the snow t.
realize the luxury of such death
William Hunter was sorry he was no
able to "write how easy aud delightful
: it is to die" Infants die as serenely a
they breathe, and not a few among tn
Z advanced in years treat death as trlent
to theirinfirmities Hanging is naturall.
= rated, next to crucifixion, most dis
. tressing procedure. But it is reporte'
: of those who have been saved iron
} ssrangulation that thesagony promises
6 to be brief, and was rapidly replaced b.
= hallucinations of a fascinating variety
&c One would fain believe that the kin
y God who suffered us to feel no sigh |
= = coming would take no delight in turnin
y our farewell into writhing-nay, he doe
= not quit us at the last. He is ou
a greatest benefactor in allowing us
u Sleep out Of weariness. Death is, assu
ie edly, no tax collector; its laws" are nc
.e the clutches of an assailant: there is
T. - "victory to the grave" the ghost speee
u away from US as it entered, with \
d. rufie The sense of death, as Shal
= speare has it, is n ost in Apprehension
y 1t Is the fear of the lonely night, NJ
- the throes of nature, that makes tt
- leaving painful.