Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-20
ABOUT SUSPENDED ANIMATION.
Some of tho Alleged Cases Among tho
Burying Fskirs of Hindoo.
Inttia o. nnhlicnn


The gentleman who was gong to sus-
pend his animation and get himself buried
In Illinois until crop of barley has been
raised over him is still hunting for @
second.n At any rate he has not been
buried yet, and there is some reason to be-
lieve he will not be.
The belief that animation can be sus-
pended for long periods and then restored
is not unreasonable IN itself. Ii is a we'll
known fact that 1t ia usual enough in the
case of nearly all the cold-blooded ami
mails and some of the m-blooded.
Animation IS probably suspended during a
greater portion of the winter in most OF
the alternating animals.
In cases of cataepsy, frequently re-
ported In the newspapers, animation 10
wholly or partly suspended for months at
time, but this does not settle the ques-
ton of whether ii can be voluntarily sus-
pended and a condition produced so near
ly approxlmating death that while the vi
tally of the body will prevent putrefac-
ton, the suspension of animation will
prevent the natural waste Of tissue, and
so indefinitely postpone death by starva-
ton.
The evidence on which it asserted that
this can be done is nearly all of Hindoo
origin. There appears IN India from time
TO time q "burying fakir," who obtains a
himself to be buried alive. There is not
tho least doubt of the fact OF the burial,
ana 1t proves that to certain extent the
suspension of animation Is possible. One
of the best authenticated cases is that de-
scribed in DIR. McCrregOr's Medical To-
Biography of LeedhIana." and 1t will illus
trate the extent to which the reality Of
suspended animation goes before 1t joins
the fraudulent pretenee.
,.lohrataA Enrvfpn faly,r u hn
who presented himself at the court of Run
leet Sing vas by that potentate incloSed in
a bag which was securely sealed, and
placed in deal box which was also sealed
and locked. The box was then
buried in vault in the. presence
of the Maharajah and of English
and French officers. Earth was placed
over the mouth of the vault and
barley was sown on it. The Maharaja, who
was skeptic on the subject of suspended
animation. had the fakir dug up twice IN
ten months, finding him IN each case as he
had been left-motionless and to oil APP
pearances dead. After the expiration OF
the ten months he was taken out aud re-
susltated. He showed no sign OF life ex-
cept slight warmth at the top OF the head.
These facts are well authenticated, but
when the English. ut the next test which
he proposed, demanded the privilege OF
substituting their Own seutIles lOI tHe ma
tive soldiers who had kept watch for the
Maharajah. the fakir endeayored to escape
that condition, and. finding 1t insisted on,
refused to be buried at oil. 1t seemed 10 be
demonstrated that By stopping up all tho
orifices of his body to exclude the air and
finally by sticking his tongue far back
into his throat to stop respiration he could
suspend animation at Will. 1t was con-
Guided, however. that he only remained in
this state for q short time and that he had
accomplices among the sentrieS who were
posted TO keep him buried.
The subject 10 one of very considerable
interest, and if any gentleman wishes to
suspend his animation IN behalf of science
while q barley crop is growing over him.
he should have every facility for making
the experiment. There are too many
cranks In the world ut any rate. and it will
not be the worse for having one less.