Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-06-11
DOES DEATH sTlNo7

An Answer From 3 Medical Point ofv1ew.
DIR. G. L. Beardsley concludes that
the dread of dying is quite as intense
as the instinct of self-preservation. In
deed, it is not improbable. adds the
doctor. that numbers would care less
about living were the modes of leaving
the world theme for happy contem-
plation, or an innovation to the routine
of plodding that was agreeable. One is
| remarkably exempt from the crime of
hasty induction if he affirms that there
is no sane or healthy mortal who an
ticlpates his extinction with any degree
of pleasure. The function of dying is
actually 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 inconvenience is moth
ing 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.
The degree of sensbility is proper
toned to the integrity of the tissues. An
inflammation heightens it; age depre-
ciates it. Amy defect in nutri-
ton disturos the comfort of
the individual until the carbonic
acid generated in the devitaliza-
ton of the blood becomes fixed in the
cells or is no longer displaced. The
sensory ganglia everywhere part with
their irritability by virtue of this
poison, and cease to conduct cur
rents. The criteria of death are being
satisfied, and the process is consum-
mated with this extinction of sens-
bility prevailing at the ultimate fila
ments. During the progress of this
dissolution of the nerve force, this
creeping on of the numbness of
death, the individual is rapidly pass
ing into condition of repose, and in
stead of torture or pangs. a degree
of dissatisfaction oft approaching to
enthusiasm is realized. The sensations
peculiar to the therapeutical operation
of opium. hasheesh, ether, etc., are
not improbably akin to the mental ac
tivities of the dying. Barring the hal
lucinatiOns experienced in the stupOr
as it gained on the subject, the MORT
bund is familiar with naught
that borders on suffering. The
cot zed the several ganglia, and reflex
summate analgesia prevails. In short.
the not on of pain is forbidden the in
slant that any stimulous fails to excite
a response. The condition to this irri-
liability is that the nerve center and the
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. For
tunately. for Il wholesome study of
ones demise, there are assurances,
abundant from vivisection, the testi-
mony of those who have been restored
to consciousness and the affirmations
of the dying that there is no physical
recoiI from death. Burney tried hard
to resist the efforts made to resuscitate
him from drowning, so bew .tched 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 realize the luxury
of such death. William Hunter was
sorry he was not able to write how
easy and delightful it is to die"
Infants die as serenely as they breathe,
and not few among the advanced in
years treat death as friend to their
infirmitles. Hanging is naturally rated,
next to crucitiXion, a most distressing
procedure. But it is reported of those
who have been saved from strangula-
ton that the agony promised to be
brief, and was rapidly replaced by hal
lucinations of a fascinating variety.
One would fain believe that the kind
God who suffered us to feel no sigh in
coming would take no delight in turn
ING our farewell into wrthing-nay,
He does not quit us at the last. He is
our greatest benefactor in allowing us
to sleep out of WEAKNESS. Death is. as
suredly, no tax collector; its jaws are
not the clutches of an assalant; there
is no ''victory to the grave the ghost
speeds away from us as it entered with
no ruffie. The sense of death, as
Shakespeare has it, is most in appre
henson. 1t is the fear of the lonely
night, not the throes of nature, that
makes the leaving painful. Medical
and Surgical Reporter.