The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-02
METHODS OF CREMATION.

To those who have not given the
matter consideration, at least to many
such, there is a feeling of repugnance
to the plan of giving the body over to
flames. In cremation as now conduct
ed there are two systems used, and by
common consent they seem to be rep
resented by the terms cremation and
incineratfon, although these are synon-
omous, meaning the reduction to ashes
by heat. AS often used now however,
cremation is the plan where the body
comes into direct, or practically direct,
contact with the flames, while inciner-
alton is used to indicate the reduction
to ashes in a retort where extreme
heat accomplished the object in a short
time but no flames from the fuel come
in contact with the body. The former
is cheaper and the results obtained
in rather a shorter time than by the
other method, but it is not quite so
pleasant to think of. 1t is custom
airy in either case now although it
was not so formerly to have the cham
Der used brought to high state of heat
before the body is put in. Various
fuels are used in different places, coal,
coke, gasoline, crude oil and refined oil
Reports from crematories in different
places give varying statements as to
the amount of fuel used and the time
required for completion of cremation.
For instance when the I. O. 0. F. crem-
atory in San Francisco used coke
they estimated from 700 lbs to 1900
lbs. according as to whether an expert
enced person used it or not, and that
included the heating of the chamber
preparatory to use. A second crema-
ton at once following, would only re-
quire 300 to 400 lbs. extra. In Troy
they used on an average 25 gallons re-
fined oil, starting with a cold chamber,
while in Milwaukee 40 gallons are al
lowed. In Los Angeles 21z bbls. crude
oil is the estimate. Where oil is used
they have in some places a jet which
is burned during the earlier stages of
the process, in the f1ue from the main
chamber, to burn any gases which may
escape. In some places the body is
wrapped in an asbestos cloth or cover
ed with an alum soaked sheet to pre-
vent the ignition of the clothing when
put into the furnace, but that has now
been generally done away with, and
the body enclosed in the coffin is put
into the chamber, only the metal trim
mings and glass of the casket being re-
moved. The use OF cOInnS without |
metal fastenings or trimmings and |
without glass is recommended to OBJ |
viate the necessity of any change |
whatever. During the process of |
combustion the light wood ashes dis |
appear and at the completion there is |
left a quantity of pearl gray ash |
say from four to five pounds
for an adult and in bulk about one
quart The time required for the ac-
of the work varies, but
an hour and half seems to be a fair
average The charge is about thirty /
dollars.
In 1859 there was not a crematory in
Europe or America but the matter was
before the Medical Interna-
.iona1 Congress at Florence during that
year Three years later a prize was
offered for the best method of prac-
tically accomplishing cremation. In
1874 the Cremation Society Of Eng
and was organized. Also in 1874 the
first crematory seems to have been |
quilt in Italy, and the first to be used
n the United States was at Washing
on, Pa. in 1876. IN England a crema-