Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-10

is difficult, the lungs are congested, there are periods characterized by faintness and loss of consciousness, the limbs and the face become dropsicai, the recumbent position is attended with an increase in the feeling of suffocation due to the interference with the respiration, and hence the patient is obliged to pass the greater part of the day and night in q sitting posture. The countenance of & person thus afflicted is indicative of the dis tress which is constantly experienced. But when the physical forces become so far re duced that the act of dying supervenes, pain or discomfort is no longer felt and oeath ensues without there being any sen satlons but those of ease and comfort both as regards mind and body.
 Death beginning by the lungs is the re- suit of the more or less sudden stoppage of the act of respiration. Such as is produced in drowning or strangulation, in which cases it takes place rapidly, or in congestion or pneumonia, when it is more gradual proc ess. In neither instance is there much, if any, physical suffering after the first few moments. Unconsciousness takes place with more or less rapidity when all sensa- tion is abolished. While this condition is being reached the speech and countenance of the patient, so far from indicating suffer ing, often show that the thoughts that are passing through the minds are of the most happy CLdtdClSF SESouS NnOSS 1lNSS AdNC been saved from drowning or other forms of suffocation have stated that they seemed up to the last moment of consciousness to be living 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 eX- amples of death beginning at the lungs There are many cases on record of persons who have been recovered when thus poisoned, when the very extremity of life had been reached, and their evidence is uni for1nly to the effect that not only was there no pain but that the act 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, even 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. 1 have also been present at the death-beds of many pious and worthy persons, and I have never known an instance among this class of the least abhorrence of death or appre- hension in regard to the future. A per son in sound health, receiving intelligence that his death is to take place in few moments would, undoubtedly, at first be greatly disturbed, and if reigiously brought up, would probably wish to make prepara- 1 tions for departing this life. But the case is very different with those who have suf- fered from d long illness, and whose per captions, therefore, have lost their sharp ness. I havo often told such persons that they had but few minutes to live, but the intelligence has never been received in any other than tho most composed and re- signed manner. Certainly this is a wise | provision of nature. For if, as with his present knowledge, it is impossible for man | Ton ic x-all h ,cfi
 tuted as to be able to accept the inevitable 1 with dignity and compoSure