The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-24
Is DEATH PAINLESS?

Is DEATH PAINLESS?
Dr.. Hammond Answers the Cues
ton In the Affirmative.
1t is only necessary to see q person die t.
be convinced that 50 far from being . pain
full process the act of death is rather pleas
ant than otherwise, writes DR.. William W
Hammond in the st. Louis Post Dispatch,
The physical phenomena that leads up to the
departure of vitality from the body arc
often characterized by great suffering.
There may be pain sukocation due to the ir-
regularity in tho action Of tho heart and
lungs, and above all intense mental
anguish. But when death begins all feel.
ing of discomfort in mind or body disap-
pears; pain in whatever part it may be sit
uated ceases to be perceived; the heart
may beat with still greater ~irregularity, tho
lungs fail It'll more notably to perform
their functions; nothing has happened to
dissipate the fear or remorse or sorrow that
have harrassed the dying person, but tho
perceptions, the intellect, the emotions, tho
viii are blunted n no longer respond to
excitations that formerly moved them.
Death Is we see it in persons who have
suffered from o more or less pr0tracted Ill
No. n M generally An act that In accom-.
,lished in a few momen Of time. II mas
even last for several hours, during which
period tho vital forces are extinRuashed
it'll BIZ little. 40 Rradusllv in fact that va
are not ablc to determine the exact instant
n which life hecomes extinct
Physiologists speak Of death ~ occurring
thronCh ~ ces,at;on NJ tn .c4ion ri c;the,
~ main Az IA heart or the Inno, Rna
~ hr.in can not be reo.rded as IN oroan
aheoIutelv essentisl "a life. however uecee.
ssu IL NAV he tn ita regular and svstematio
cour,e. The cutiro organ NAV be- removed
from certain kinds of nnimais and RET lifo
eues almost "A perfectly for . time ~ thouok
It were still there todominato the rest Of tho
body. Tho heart beats, the lungs respire,
The stomach digests, and the several glands
continue to elaborate the secretions proper
tothem, and not only all this, but actions
aFe performed which are well calculated to
excite establishment in those who see them
for the first time and who have embraced
the idea that al intelligence resides in tho
brain. Thus, for instance, il the brain be
entirely removed from tho head of q frog
and the web between the toes be pinched
the limb is Immediately withdrawn; il the
shoulder be scratched with . needle the |
hind foot Of the same side is raised to 70
move the instrument; il the animal is held
up BY one leg it struggles; if placed on its |
bock-a position to which frogs have q great |
an~tipathy-it Immediately turns over ON it,
belly; il one foot be held firmly with q psir |
of forceps the frog endcay0rs to draw IL |
away: il unsuccessful it places the other |
foot against tho instrument and pushes
firmly in the effort to remove it: ctiU not
succeeding it writhes the BODY from side 70
side and makes q movement forward. I
have seen . rattiesuake strike after it, head
was cut of, and q viper has been known to
crawl straight for its hole in the wall after
suffering like mutilatiou.
Nor are such cxner;u.rt. ,be or,v ev;-
dence ..,. have that life nav rsr.;st eSon.h
the brain he absent T. so,nef,.ro. nor.sn.
that ,ndividuaIs of tho hnm.r .nec;ee a.
horn w;fhon, h-,;n. Ino.o
lr;rd i;fo ,.,s 49,. ~ OSr
Though yery feeble th;. hc;no had TIA
Of sucking and the seve-si s,nc.;on.
Of the body seemed to be well nerformed.
is eyes clearly perceived the I;oht ar6 AM.
ipR the NIGHT il cr;c6 n tho caoS,. r.. a.
lowed to 60 out. After death the crsnium
vyss or,eped and there ,ro. fc,,nS ~ ~ =.
SOtle0 0nS@n(0 nj the ssopoh~n,- T. 81
,ther Gaze fho. ~ . r,.I. ;.1.-. M.:HI
lived eiebteen bo,rs th.,s -a. ~...~S
lfter death no vestice ~ . hr.;r nsv..eS~.
ess respiration MA e.tahi;.h.d. -. r,.:s.
,ontr.cted the light: bitter ;u;ce nj i,,o
he mouth Va immed;.tsIv r.;s.t~S 80
oud noises caused moyement. az ~ ND .
another case in which t6e cranium ~: :
empty life continued for TOM az. T..
set this beng opened and shut n. eves' !
.ried, sucked and even ate broth. ;
The brain. therefore. i. cs.ent;., ~ 10. :
20 far as il in esscntiaI "a the co.t;r- =
Ied action of the heart and Iun0. W. = :
the seat OF disease in cortain A. Il. ns-t: .
10 action Of all the organs Of the bodv il /
nore or less impaired although they NAV {
ontinue their functions In such . manner b