The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
BURIAL OF THE LIVING.
Premature Interment Is Discussed
by Doctors and Lawyers.


New York, March I7-Physicians and
lawyers discussed premature burial in
the Marlborough Hotel last night The
occasion was the March meeting of the
Medico-Legal Society. There were many
women present
H. Gerald Chaplin. lawyer, read pa
per. He prepared a bill to prevent pre-
mature burials, which was introduced in
the legislature by Assemblyman Reding-
ton. on March 4, and which is now in
committee.
He stated that he had studied the Gues-
tion closely. and was sure that prelna-
ture burial was possible. though rare.
All who entered the diScussj IN which
followed agreed that premature burial
may occur, excepting Mr.. Carl Hauscr,
who said he doubted if there ever was an
authentic case.
He was promptly contradicted by Mrs.
Ida Trafford Bell, who arose and said:
1T may seem unusual for a woman to
take part in such a discussion as this,
but / feel called upon to show Mr.. Hau-
ser that he is wrong: / am a living eX-
ample of the possibility of being buried
alive.
4 was prepared for burial and was
about to be carried to a hearse when
signs of life were discovered, and l was
saved from the most awful fate that
can be conceived.
Mr.. Hauser says truly that if doctors
do their duty premature burial is i'm
possible. They did not do their duty in
my case. The bill prepared by Mr.. Cha
pin may save but one person from such
fate The saving of one will more than
compensate for all the trouble the bill
may cause to doctors, undertakers, and
public officers"
Mr.. Chapin read the Redington bill.
which provides for mortuaries with phv-
sicians in attendance at cemeteries apd
Crematories, for the keeping of bodies TOR
| seventy-two hours after death. and fer
/ tests Of death by physicians by making
! incisions into arteries. by the seeking Of
4 transparent appearance in the hand
! by the holding of q mirror before the
/ mouth. by the holding of heated iron
| against the skin, and by an eXamin ton
Of the eyes. In the bill a physician Is
/ made guilty of a misdemeanor if he ne
! elects to make the tests free Of charge
and the manager q cemetery who do
obeys the proposed law is to be fined g.
! 900
DR. H. J. Garigues, Clark Bell. forEe,
| Surrogate A. II. Daley, and others. ap
proved the passage of such a bill. L
though each suggested some alteration II
] the bill as drawn.
| There was to have been a report by
| committee on the case of Captain Drey
| fus. Clark Bell stated that the CoInmitte,
| would not be ready TO report until mex
month. but he said he felt that the pub
Lefty Of what seemed 10 be the sad spec
tacle OF France attempting to blind iIs
tice and to stifie an investigation that Nat
| brought discredit to the nation made
necessary for the society to take son
/ formal notice of the case.
Former Coroner NJ. Ellinger recited til
| history of the case, and former Surrogat
DALEY said:
The methods adopted by French court
to convict DreyfUs and Zola are an out
rage on civilization. None could read c
the trial of Zola without indignation
This society should condemn that action
We are few. but no fewer than the littl
| band Of interviewing people who starte
? the movement against slavery in III
] | country.
I'VE can enter a protest as intelliger
r | people against this race prejudice, ignO
| ance and corruption. 1t is a little gu
: side the object of this society to do s.
4 | but II IS all we can do. / desire to haN
D a fun and complete report on this cas-
; from our committee"