Year: 1876

THE QUESTION OF BURNING THE BODIES OF TIE
DEAD AS 1T PRESENTS ON THE CONTINENT
OF EUBoPE-ARGUMENTs IN GERMANY AND
sw1TzERLAND-THE RECENT CASE IN MILAN
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS LADY WILLS
HER BODY TO THE FIRE.


ROME, Feb 4, 1876
The cremation question has now fairly taken its
place upon the order OF the day in Italy. 1t will
be in the memory Of many OF your that in the
autumn Of the year 1874 the opportunity afforded by
the presence Of many Of the first living authorities
in science during the sngs of the Congress Of Natur-
aists in Breslau, was turned to account by the
Of cremation a substitute for burial and
experiment made upon the body Of woman who
had just died In the local hospital The apparatus
employed on this occasion constructed upon the
model proposed by aprofessor in Munich and since
brought into requsition various other instances the
latest upon being that Of Lady Dixie the wife OF
tho famous republican baronet Sir Charles Dixie.
What steps have been taken by the Bavarian govern
ment do not know As far, however, as Prussia Is
concerned the cremationsts have haa cold water
thrown upon them by order issued by Count Euen-
burg to the effect that as the question salts
factorily settled from scientific point OF view further
experiments could not be allowed This was not ex-
acty the conclusion at which the cremationsts wished
arrive but there help them and they are
awaiting better times


CREMATION IN SWITZERLAND


In Switzerlandor, at any rate in most OF the can
tons OF that republic-no restrictions seem 10 have
been laid upon the practice either simple expert
ment in pursuance OF the expressed wish Of the
ceased, and the authorities OF Zurich have even gone
far take the initiative in the matter by
ing the city cemetery apparatus apart for the
~ vho dAoFr "a
their native elements


the partisans OF cremation have had uphill work in
struggling against the manifold difficulties which beset
their path. The question has, however at last been
decided in their favor. little more than two years
ago an old gentleman Of property and position, named
Keller, died in Milan. His DESIRE expressed through.
out has lifetime and solemnly confirmed in his wilL
was that his body should be reduced to
ashes This practice be had constantly advocated
upon sanitary grounds, and among bis numerous be-
quests was one Tor the erection Of burning apparatus
In the public cemetery Of Milan Before his death he
had frequent interviews with some OF the leading sci
enthe men Of Milan, and particularly with Drz POLL
and Gorini with whom he spent hours or earnest con-
suaton upon the nttest mode Of carrying out bis pet
scheme, and, as IL appeared that serious dnicultes
Mr. Kellers death his corpse should be embalmed and
Kept IN this condition until all impediments should


CREMATION IN nLAM


On the I'D OF January, 1874 Mr. Albert Keller, who
though OF Swiss origin OF Italian birth, and had
been settled for upwards OF haii century in Milan





into elect as far they could be at the time The
body was carefully embamed with one Of the many
processes devised for this purpose by Dr. Gorini all
mineral substances, which, as we learn, would have
marred the purity OF the ashes remaining after CON-
bussion, having been jeaously excluded Thus pre-
pared, the corpse was placed in leaden CONN, TO
which glass I'D had been sodercd. The cofan was
then laid ~ bed Of quick lime and camPhor. and all
that was len Of poor Keller remained thus for two
years awaiting It's nnal passage through the fiery
furnaco rf-


DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.


Then began series Of long and Of course very tire
some negotiations, partly with the city authorities and
partly with the sanitary department, forming ono OF
the branches Of the central The latter
quired minute information respecting the system 70 be
employed aud which, II may be here stated, Is the IN
venton OF two Manese professors, Messrs Po and
ClericettL After several experiments had been made
with the view OF testing the efficacy Of the crematory
process the ofcial consent was given on condition
that the apparatus should be erected on consecrated
ground, and that the arrangements should be placed
under the control OF the sanitary board In the provinces
OF Milan The heirs Of tho deceased now relieved
nom all anxiety a. FAR as regarded the central govern