Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-03-04
The Pleasures Of Dying.

a meaning which OF late has come to
be OF great Importance to every one.
Death was formerly considered great
struggle, aud vivid, almost shocking
accounts of the phenomena OF dying
were given in such exaggerated forms
that none cared 10 think OF the event
full moment when death should come
TO them. Euthanasia, or the pleasure
OF dying, takes the very opposite
view, and proclai,ns death to be easy
aud almost painless. AS the impor-
tant time approaches nature brings
her peculiar anesthetic. and the per
son passes of without suffering half
the agony which the sickness causing
the death brought TO the patient.
Even men meeting violent death in
the jaws OF wild beasts have few
moments OF calm preparation before
diving, which brings relief and GER
tain degree of pleasure. The great
trouble in death il the sickness ana
pain which carries one 10 the door OF
death. and il is at such moments that
one suffers all OF the torment aud
agony OF a dozen deaths.
The pleasure of dying can only be
likened TO those Of the dreamy NOR
phine eater, who gradually passes on
into "A semi-conscious state, where
everything seems like floating visions
! OF bliss The body and nerves are
numb. and the excited, overwrought
/ brain becomes quiet and uneNcited.
| The imagination plays fancifully Will
| bissful pictures, and the whole con
dition OF the nervous system Is OF
pleasurable exaltation. The drown
/ ing man experiences the same relief
/ and pleasure when the struggles are
over. aud the cold limbs grow stln
aud numb. Persons frozen In blind
| ing snow storms have reported their
sensations accurately, aud they all
agree that after a certain amount of
suffering they enter into bllssful
! state, from which they do not wish To
be oused. Morphine. cocaine, ether
and laudanum bring To the patient
this same mental and nervous condi-
ton, and patients resent any attempt
to rouse them from their dreamy
state. Nature supplies her own anes-
thetic before the important moment
has arrived. Before the death.rattle
j. heard. the convulsed frame relaxes,
the sign OF pain and suffering on the
face disappears, and often n smile
partly opens the lips. The whole body
shows signs OF a painless moment, and
IL the mind wanders, and the tongue
utters words they are all OF pleasure
aud Joy. Those who have watched
at hundreds OF desthbed. have noted
that death was easy, and officers In
battle have testified that the lant mo.
ments OF dying soldiers were painless
ones. People who have been In the
laws of wild beasts in India, aud have
been rescued at the last moment, tes-
tify that IA numbing calInness was ex-
perienced after the first sharp painful
snap OF the teeth upon them. In fact,
the approach Of every creatures fate
brings with II II kindly preparation
when life IL blissful, and full OF pleas
ures. The last sensation In ths world
Is then one OF joy, aud not ercrucist-
ing pain.
The real knowledge Of euthanssia
certainly dimiDishes, " II does not en-
tirely relieve the dread Of many OF
the last struggles, which has been
made 80 horrible by vivid descriptions
OF it's agony The pleasures OF dying
may remove N great burden from the
minds Of hundreds who are inevitably
approaching death. The old-fssh-
ioned notion that death would be ter.
rible had n baleful influence upon
those who were fighting iDsidious die
eases, aud many aggravated their
complaints by feverishly dreadiDg
the pain Of the last struggle. In this
way n great deal OF harm was done.
and many sufferers hsstened their
own end. Suicide may not be increas.
ed by a knowledge that the last mo-
ments are painless, but IL IL evident
that many u those who contemplate
violent deaths by their own haDdt
will endeavor TO make the transition
as painless as possible. II the real
agony Is caused by getting 20 DEATH
door, they will endeayor to effect thir
by painless methods. Suicides are
now commonly effected by means Of
the revolver placed at the temple, or
by taking som. soothing poisoDs
which carry the persons of into
dreamy sleeps from which they never
awake. Ia either ease there II very
little pain. The sharp, sudden eI
plosion causes quick shock ~ the
system, and more than this the patien 4
knows nothing.
In the case Of poisoning. the pain
suffered is only when the system
combats against the desire TO yield n
the influence Of the drug. Sleep gen
orally steals over the person, audi
only the dreamy pleasures caused bs|
the poison and OF dying are again ~
perienced In this world. The greater
pain felt IL that Of the stomacb-pump
which may be applied In time to r.
call the suicides to- life. and Ia ever
case they rebel against this most smI
phatically. That the suffering Is no
80 terrible may be surmised from th
fact that persons who have once a
tempted suicide frequently make th
second or third attempt. IL il fac
| II Il.