The record-union., 1898-02-20
PREMATURE BURIAL.

An Oakland clergyman has reopened
the question of living burial by preach
ing an intelligent and useful sermon on
that subject, but he reaches, we think,
some extreme conclusions. Because it
is fact that not few. but many people
have been committed to the grave when
in a eataleptic state, he assails both Gre
nation and embalming, holding that
many have been killed by these two pro-
fcesses.
But it is also true that decomposition
well set in is proof positive Of death.
There may the rigor of death, the icy
GOODNESS and other usual signs, and the
body still be alive. Instances are of
record in plenty Of living burial, and we
are by no means disposed to dispute the
statement that living persons have been
killed by embalming. The latter pro-
cess we are not friendly to. The order Of
nature is that the dead body must decay
and return to dust. 1t is neither wise
nor necessary to prevent that natural
process going on The desires of friends
to view remains Of their loved ones after
removal some distance. or after long
lapse of time, is the chief reason for en-
balming. but this sentiment involves
risk in complying with it.
But when it comes to cremation the
fact that the cataleptic state is often so
close in resemblance to death as TO de-
ceive even physicians, is no reason for
condemning incarceration. Embalming
is generally done before decay sets in,
but not so with cremation, the cleanly,
economic. reasonable and sanitary
method Of disposing of the dead body.
The reduction to ashes by heat is but
a Fastening of the process of decay. Be
tween crumbling to dust in the grave
and incarceration there is no difference in
fact, except that of time.
Neither cremation nor burial nor en-
balming should be had until there are
positive evidences given by nature her
self that the body is dead. One can
conceive of nothing more horrible than
the suferings of the being who wakes
in the grave beneath six feet of earth,
with realization that he has no escape
and must die in the most awful manner
imaginable. So terrible IS the thing that
no one cares to take the chances of
being one of even the rare cases Of pre-
mature burial
The preacher is clearly right in urg-
ing that there shall be no haste in burial
or cremation If there is need for re-
rlovaI of the body of ones loved dead be-
fore positive evidences have set in that
life has fed. there are many means of
avoiding the risk Of premature disposal.
Vaults are frequently constructed now
adays, fitted with electrical appliances
and many points Of contact with the
body, so that the slightest movement,
even the faintest respiration or the
trembling Of an eyelid. viii sound an
alarm and summon aid.
But in most cases the body can be
kept until the certainty of death
is set up. At all events we can agree
with Rev. Law that the embalmer and
the ice pack should be abandoned. II
there is life in the body these two viii
put out the lingering spark. Without
them, decay will set in if death is pres
ent. But it is not certain that the
preacher is correct in his statement that
the cataleptic state never ends in death
He is sound, however. in the assertion
that there are many-more than people
generally suppose-cases of premature
burial and premature embalming. But
that this is strong argument against
cremation cannot be maintained. All
crematories are fitted with chamber
especially prepared for retention Of
bodies on request of friends until there
is proof positive by advanced decompo-
sition that no life remains.