New-York tribune., 1886-03-12
.CREMATION AND HEALTH.
A PAPER BY DIR. FRANK II. HAMILTON.
THE BURNING OF BODIES not NECESSARY AS
SANITARY MEASURE.

THE BURNING OF BODIES NOT NECESSARY AS
SANITARY MEASURE.
The Society of Medical JuIisprudenoe and State
Medicine met last evening at the Academy OF Sciences
No I2 West Thirty-Grstst. There was large attend
ance and the paper read Ly Dr. Frank H. Hamilton on
Cremation not required a sanitary measure was
listened to with marked attention and was frequently
applauded DIR. Hamilton said taat this paper was
preparcd 20 combat the movement which was on foot to
coerce cremation by legislative enactment, in certain
case. Cremation he said is not necessary 70 destroy
the germs OF disease Many learned scientists deny
c existence of disease germs and back up their opn
IONS with ~ good evidence those who believe that
tbev exist but the weight OF authority is in support
Of the belief that all organized structures generate
cases or microbes which destructive to life.
Veeetabe decay causes malaria aud its action Is well
understood The action of the decay of animal bodies
on the health of individuals is not well established
Ur Hamilton visited a place in France in 1874
where there we're about 80 600 dead animals worked
up nto various shapes buttons glue and other things,
every year. The laborers who worked in this decay
M matter enjoyed good health the average man,
and were particularly subject to those diseases
which are supposed 10 come from decayng hesh. Inc
olor of the melting fat and roting bodies there was
almost unbcarale but the ueShboThoOd was free from
any elcct that could be tracesJe It's influence. In
a
and though they mas he clean the surface there Il
an Accommodations OF dccayn- matter around them, and
the odor l. perceptble Il reachcs at times Murray
Hill and causes many WY faces No specific form OF
disease can be- traced 90 their influence. Chicago and
Cincinnati are the great centres OF slaughter IN thls
country but there statistics TO show that this
renders them unhealthy. Decsyed matter NAV induce
disease but reports Of its extent are exaggerated
Horses have been lett exposed for days upon battle
fields without causing disease among soldiers POOL
t starnant water OF sewer gas escaping from refuse
pine will cause a hundreC-t.d more sickness thfn
dead cat or dog although there i odor comes from
them.
Human bodie. decay m.rt rapidly than animals
and -Lr-c ere two septic infucuces winch come from
them which differ il degree One begins when the
hot ,,es and lasts few days. This poison is exceed
ing dangerous and autOp-i's made soon after death
great care taken have any o the substance of
the body come into contact with any abrasion upon
The hands Ot the surgeon. Aitel uVe or SIX uaNs 'e
body Loses this poisonous quality and III dls-ections
where the bodies IN Prtld state the hah- "l 'he
.,r,eon may be emf with the knives with impuAty.
h,-c bodies may uducr disease by iuocnli ion BOT
IN an eXpcrifrcr covering many years, Dr. iahuloh
did not know personally of >Egl" case oil per sou
being made -cf hf ihe srlc S9-', Irlh u.uIs- III &
d:--,c'ing room. lie supported ms @a''U'nt uN 'n
record of several French phy y-icans Whlch snow sd
when there were 10 m.t-l re~ taken To tNcl'u' -.
septic gases from uI.-eclu- rooms from t"' 1l 'ud
there were di-e@,es ia their HcIEEbornoOa "hieh
could hc said 70 have been caus,d 10y them There Is
mo- dancer from an exposed dcaC body. The keeper o
the NOR ue this city Who held the Ohct Ior nineteen
Years never saw sick dav. Nearly 5000 bodies 90
10 the purgue every year Nothing Is done 70 preserve
then hey are all in stage. OF rutrelacuon. mere
j. record 0i single case OF sickness resulting Ih
this exposure OF bod - fact from actual Analysis
there less disease germs ia the ar @ TIE n3rSe
and dead-house than IN ne Osborne ward il Iele-
vue where there Is every prec'uilon taken against
their development.
these relations Or Hamilton did not believe, were
a.. f,r ftf.r IN
| a decavlng body are carbOuic acid, suph retied
hytro1cu snd ammonia. These cease To form aittr
two months. The earth changes the uenu}$ o. Inc ,ne
gases. reno ers them harmless ah' IL l. o' lurH
could filter through six feet OF ground A large num-
ber Of bodies in Nault might he dangerous ny I'M
preguatug water auC ar m the htlIi onlI'"u IN
ordinary burial grounds here bodies are Iut ID sng}
there can lie danger. The evidence In favor oi
cremation i- taken IRON foreign sources anu l. uot
authentic and is untru-tworthy Wafer taken from the
ueghborhood Of grave ards has been found 10 contain
/ carhouic acid gas but this has also been louhd
frequently Nh'ie lhr5t arr i l' esr,' b. ID TLe
proof that II came from dcconpasIn@ O"dy.. rue
earth air and water TEEN with germs destructive 0
human life, and if all bodies were burned disease
would not be diminished at all These germs 2io"
ndeueudaut If the decay of animals. In this )unry
ther. il sentiment against cremation. ANY one Wh"
/ de.ire- to should he allowed ~ be crcmated but 1t
would be unjust 10 enforce II hy law contrary 10 me
religous-eutimcnt of a large majority ana Iii lace Oh
the act that unnecessary 10 preserve puplC heil
A. C. Kob. president of the cremation soeiety.
/ spoke in reply 10 Dr. Hamilton. lie exhibited glas'
vase containing the ashes of body which was mem
/ cr,trd nj Fresh Pond. II weighed pounds ana the
shes were dui white. He contra-ted 'heir appear
alce with what took pace III every grave and Iaimed
that il was more satisfactory to look upon them tb"h
/ to think of the putreiNlug body Of TREND.
/ The Rev Charles H. Harrow eI said that the strong
ront against cremation that Il would destroy the
evidence of crime if il became universal where Do
criminal act was suspected until long after dea'h re
could no way OF rsmedJnS thl' feature u 'D'
/ subject. ri
Df. \. ". Bell Editor OF The SGatari"m, was Of the
opinion that no danger could come rom GIa'tsaIu
restrictions were placed upon hem, a. IN several
courtric. in Europe where they were not permitted
within several hundred wards OF a dwelling house OF
| where they were provided with a system OF under
drainage ~,
DR. F. C. Harwood offered a resolution requesting
the Legislature enact a law requiring all per7on'
who should die in any cities OF this state. OF smallpox
yellow fever cholera or ANY body which has to be
buried a, public expense to be cremdted az soon after
death a. uo-sible and that II be declared unlawiul "a
hurry body in a vault in the ground unless at least
| four feet below the surface This was referred 10
| committee.