The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-31

= S';fh"u''. The lungs are conGested, there
SI> .-.-u.s characterized ty ia:utnesS and
| loss OF consciousness, the liz DS and the q
become trJ;sSicai. the r~ecuIlbent position Is
| at. IT VI :: IN increase ia the feeling OF
su-oca.i,n due 10 the interference with the
| respiration, and hence the patient IL obliged
to p.Ss inc greater part OF the Gay and night
in u sitting posture. The c~ountenancc OF q
| person thus inflicted is Indicative of the dis
trcss which IS constantly experienced But
when the physical forces become so far re.
! duccd tIat The ;:cJ of dying supcrvenes,
pain or discomfort is no longer felt and
| death CaSCes without there being any SEN
satlons but those OF case ard comfort BON
| as regards mind and body.
Death beginning by the lungs is the re-
suit or the more or less sudden StocpaSc OF
tle act of respiration. Sue, as is produced
III drowning CT straIgGla;ior, III which cases
ii takes place rapidly. or il congestion or
pneumonia, VIXEN it IS = more gradual proc
css. In neither instance is there much, il
any, physical suffering after the first few
moments. Inconsistencies takes place
! with more or less rapiii:y when all scnsa-
ton IS abolished. While this condition is
being reached the speech and co1ntcnance
of the patient, so far from indicating suffer
ing, often show that the thoughts that arc
passing through the minds arc of the most
happy character. Persons whose lives have
been saved from drowning or other forms
of sutfocation nave stated that they seemed
up to the last moment OF consciousness to
be living j life of supreme bliss. Opium
poisoning, and the condition produced by
the inhalation of carbonic oxide gas result
ing from the combustion of charcoal are cx-
amplcs of death beginning 1T tho lungs.
There are many cases on record OF persons
who have been recovered when thus
poisoned, when the Very extremity OF life
Lad been reached. and their evidence is uni
fOrmly to the effect that not only was there
no pain but that the get Of dying, so far as
they had experienced it. WAS a most delight
full process.
l have seen , great many people die,
some of them great sinners, wen ~ruffianS
Of the most degraded type, and I have
never yet witnessed in any case the slight
est fear of death or of a hereafter. I have
also been present at the death-bcds of
many pious and worthy persons, and I have
never Known an instance among this class
of the least adherence of death or appre-
hensiOn in regard to the future. A per-
son in sound health, receiving intelligence
hat his death is to take place in q few
moments would, undoubtedly, ut first be
greatly disturbed, andi if religiously brought
up, would probably wish to make prepare
tons for departing this life. But the case
is very different with those who have suf-
fered from a long illness, and whose per-
ceptions, therefore, have lost their sharp
ness. l have often told such persons that
they he'd but a few minutes to live, but
the intelligence has never been received in
any other than the raost composed and re-
signed manner. Certainly this is q wise
provision of nature. For il. as with his
present knowledge, it is impossible for man
to escape death, it is well that he IL consti-
tuted As to be able to accept the inevitable
with dignity aud cOmposure.