Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-22
APPARENT DEATH.
Some Rare Cases and Experiences in this
Interesting Field of Thought

interesting Field of Thought
Among the various forms of abnormal
sleep are some that resemble rather the
sleep of death, says a writer in YomRs
Companion, for there is sometimes hardly
discernible sign of life. Some cases Of
the kind have, without doubt, been fol-
lowed by the burial Of the patient If
there was ever any difficulty in determin-
ing the question of actual death, there is
probably little or none now There are
several well-known tests that remove all
doubt upon the question whether life is or
is not extinct.
In some cases of sleep that, to the ordi-
nary observer, seems death, the person is
wholly unconscious of his surroundings,
and may seem to himself separated from
his body and lifted to the bliss and glory
of heaven. This was so with the celebrated
Rev. William Tenant in the last century.
The whole three days, while he lay appar-
emily dead, seemed to him concentrated
into few minutes of indescribable Joy, but
his former life long remained blank, and,
learned scholar as he was, he had to begin
his alphabet again. When he reached the
Latin grammar, his old stores of knowledge
gradually returned to him.
But in cases somewhat similar the person
has full consciousness of his condition and
surrounding without being able to give
any sign of it.
The case of Rev. Edward B. Emerson,
recently published in the C5ngregationalist,
is remarkable one. Mr.. Emerson-he
late died at the age of 76-was son of
Rev. Brown Emerson, D. D., an eminent
minister in Salem, Mass.
At the age of 81 he was suddenly at
tackled with peculiarly fatal fever then
prevailing. For time his case was re-
garded as hopeless; but, having survived
his worst attacks, he was at length thought
to be out of danger, his nurse went home,
and less skilled attendant took her place.
In few days violent symptoms returned.
and then the patient seemed to die. The
physician declared him dead, and his
funeral was appointed. For day and a
half he lay with his eyes fixed, teeth
locked and no perceptible breathing.
But all the while he was conscious of
everything that was said and done at his
bedside, and though the arrangements for
the funeral were freely talked over in his
hearing, he came to feel certain that he
would somehow be restored to life through
his former nurse. Strangely enough, that
nurse, who had not learned of what had
occurred since she left, was reused from
her sleep by a vivid dream of some one in
danger, whom she alone could help.
The next morning she determined to
visit her former patient, and learn his
condition. On ascertaining the facts she
became satisfied, though she had only her
dream to oppose to the judgment of the
physician, that he was not dead. She in
sisted on the use of means for his recovery.
The means were effectual He gradually
regained his health and resumed his min
istry.
During the period of suspended anima-
ton his mind was in very exalted state.
but he did not, like Tenant, seem to be
borne away from the body He himself
says:
" In addition to this, heaven was par
tally opened with its wonderful holiness
and glory, and an all-pervadIng and ele-
waiting impression within and around me
OF supernatural sanctity, splendor and love,
thrilling my soul with mingled reverence
and delight. The object prominent above
others was spiritual impersonation of the
Lord Jesus"
This period of enjoyment was while he
was actually hearing the conversation of
the watchers. An interesting feature of
the case is that the impression on the
mind Of his nurse in her dream was at the
very time that the conviction was given
his own mind that he would be restored
through her.
When her knock was heard at the door
next morning he felt sure that the knock
was hers, and that she had come to effect
his resuscitation.