Year: 1877

The popular ideas relative to the
suferings of persons On the point OF
death are undoubtedly, to q certain ex-
extreme agony which is often presented
under these circumstances is due to
mere muscular agitation, independent
OF any extraordinary sensibiiity Of the
nerves of feeling. Those who die a
natural death, in the very last stages of
existence, are scarcely conscious of
bodily suffering-not more than thew
frequently are to the attentions and
soiicitude of friends.


Those who die by violence or acci-
dents undoubtedly experience q degree
of pain proportionate to the extent of
the bodily mutilation. Hanging is
but few, after all, "shuff1e off this mortal
COLI more easily than those who are
suspended by the neck. It is akin to
drowning in this respect. Tho blood
immediately seeks the head, and soon
deprives it of all consciousness. The
efforts to inhate the air, which are kent
up for some timo after the cord ia At
tached, and which cause such violent
movements of the chest and extremi-
ties, arise from the influence of the
spinal marrow, whose sensibility is not
SO soon destroyed by the congestion of


blood as that of the brain. Persons


Who die by decapitation most probably


suffer more. though their pain is only
momentary; this is the case with those
who blow out their brains. The sensa-


ton produced by ball passing through
the body would be difficult to describe
by one who has never experienced it:
but it is something singular in this case


that those who are shot, although the
''leaden messenger of death" may not


have penetrated any essentially vital
organ, Immediately fall to the earth
apparently under an irresistible feeling
of their approaching return to dust. ex-


claiming, as it were, involuntarily, "I
am dead manl''


A dagger wound in the henrt, for the
few moments which are consumed in
the ebbing of life, must occasion un.
utterable feelings of agony, independent


OF the mere sensations Of pains in the
parts snndered by the entrance of the
/ blade. The rushing out Of the blood at
each convulsive pulsation of the heart
+ must seem like the actual spectacle of
/ the flow OF life


Those who arc crushed to death NAV
not expire instantly. unless the Uranium
happens to be involved in the casualty.
Where the skull is not fractured there


is probably an inconceivable agony for


few seconds flashing thought Of
home, friends and family. and all is over.
Those who are cut in two by heavily


burdened railroad car must experience
some similar sensations.


II the neck is broken low down the
person does not necessarily die on the


instant. His situation is the most dis


tressing perhaps of any which can be


imagined. Ho may live and have


being for days, but he can not move.


His face may express all the passions,


feelings and emotions; but beyond the


motions OF his breast and countenance.


his energies do not 60 His arms are
piDioned to his side; his legs are Iifeless.
and he essentially beholds his BODY in


the grave while he is yet in full posses


sion Of his faculties. The least disturb


auce of his position is liable to launch


him at once into eternity.


In taking laudanum person exists in
| q state Of insensibility for a length OF


time, melancholy spectacle to his


friends. In poisoning from arsenic, a


great amount of suffering is undergone


The sensibitity of the stomach il ex-


ceedingly acute when infamed, and the


effect of arsenic is to produce fatal in
fammation of this piscus. Prussic acid


is rapid and acts by paralyzing the brain
1 In rejecting on the horrors which


death presents under these different
} aspects Of violence, the mind becomes
satiated with disgust We can not dc
} better than turn to the contemplation o.
, its features in the mildsr course Of dis
3 ease, where. il the mind be at ease, tht
final exit is made without any of those