The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-24

Is d'ficult. the lungs are congested, there
arc periods characterized By f~aintneos end
loss Of Consciousness, the limbs and The foce
become dropsical, the recumbent posit,o0 =
attended with an increase In the feeling Of
sufIocatiOn due to the interference with Tie
respiration, and hence the patient 10 obliged
to pass the greater part Of the day and night
in o sitting posture. The countenanco OF .
person thus afflicted is indicative Of tho di0-
tress which is constantly experienced. But
when the physical forces become 80 fAr ~
duced that the act of dying superveuess
pain or discomfort is n longer felt and
death ensues without there being any seo-
satlons but those of ease and comfort both
as regards mind and body.
Death beginning by the lungs ID the ~
suit of the more or less sudden stoppage OF
the act of respiration. Such as is produced
in drowning or s~trangulati0n, in which cases
it takes place rapidly, or in congestion or
pneumonia, when it is a more gradual proc
ess. In neither instance is there much, II
any, physical suffering after the drst few
moments. UnconsciOusness takes place
with more or less rapidity when all senSa-
ton is abolished. While this condition II
being reached the speech and c~ovntenAnco
Of the patient, SO far from indicating suffer
ing, often show that tho thoughts that are
passing through the minds are Of the most
happy character. Persons whose lives have
been saved from drowning or other forms
Of suffOcation have stated that they seemed
up to the last moment of consciousness to
be living q 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 e1-
amples OF death beginning at the lungs.
There arc many cases on record Of persons
have been recovered when thus
poisoned, when the very extremity Of Lie
fOrmly to the effect that not only waS tAero
no pain but that the act of dying, 90 far -
they had experienced twas q most delight
full process.
l have seen Q great many people die,
of them great sinners, ven ruf3ans
Of the most degraded type, and I have
never yet witnessed in any case tho slight
est fear Of death or of q hereafter. lhoyo
also been present at the death-bods Of
many pious and worthy persons, and I hsve
never known On instance among this Glass
Of the least adherence Of death or appro. !
hension in regard to the future. A per. |
son in sound health, receiving intelligence |
that his death is to take place in . few |
would, undoubtedly, at first b
greatly disturbed. and if religiously brought
up, would probably wish to mako prepare
for departing this life. But The case
. very different with those who have suf.
Tered from q long illness, and whose pa.
,eptions, therefore, have lost their sAazp.
ness. l have often told such persons that
hey had but a few minutes to live, but
he intelligence has never been received n
my other than tho most composed and %.
'igned manner. Certainly this 10 . wise
provision Of nature. For il. ~ with be
'resent knowledge, it 10 impossible for nan
escape death, it 10 well that he u coasti-
nted as to be able to accept the inevitable
Nth dignity and composure.