MISCELLANEOUS ADDENDA.

HASTY BURIALS.

As an illustration of hasty burials dealt with in Chapter X. the following case is cited from the King’s County Chronicle, Parsonstown, Ireland, August 27, 1896:—

“ROSCREA GUARDIANS.

“Thursday—Present: T. Jackson, D.V.C., in the chair; L. S. Maher, J.P.; M. Bergin, J.P.; W. J. Menton, W. Jackson, P. Roe.

“Mr. Roe—You made short work of Jack Ryan at the chapel of Knock. He was alive and speaking at three o’clock, and buried at six the same day. The Master stated that, it being supposed the man died from an infectious disease, no person would assist in coffining him till a message came asking that he (the Master) would send out some of the male inmates, and he sent two and had him coffined and interred. Mr. Roe—The man was not cold when he was buried. Master—The nun tells me the man had an ounce of tobacco clasped tightly in his hands. Chairman—What disease had he? Clerk—Pneumonia was certified by the doctor. The people believed that he had died from an infectious disease, and insisted he should be buried immediately. Mr. Roe—It was certainly short work—a man dying at three o’clock and buried at six. Master—This man was married to a woman who was a nurse in the old Donoughmore workhouse, and they lived at Drumar, Knock.”[22]

EVIDENCE OF RESUSCITATIONS IN GRAVE-YARDS.

Reference has been made in this volume to the discoveries of premature burial brought to light during the investigations of charnel-houses in France, and the removal of grave-yards, necessitated through the rapid expansion of towns, in America. The Casket, Rochester, New York, U.S., of March 2, 1896, gives a detailed narrative of recent discoveries made by T. M. Montgomery in the removal of Fort Randall Cemetery, with the condition of the bodies found as to decay or state of preservation, and says:—

“We found among these remains two that bore every evidence of having been buried alive. The first case was that of a soldier that had been struck by lightning. Upon opening the lid of the coffin we found that the legs and arms had drawn up as far as the confines of the coffin would permit. The other was a case of death resulting from alcoholism. The body was slightly turned, the legs were drawn up a trifle, and the hands were clutching the clothing. In the coffin was found a large whisky flask, showing that those who buried him were not his friends, or else that they too were afflicted with the disease that had cut short the life of their companion.

“It occurred to us at that time that this was a great argument in favour of incineration. Nearly two per cent. of those exhumed here were, no doubt, victims of suspended animation. Once before in our experience have we noted this; and while not believing in as large a percentage of live burials as the radical advocates of cremation claim, yet we know that the percentage is larger than most scientists give. Disinterment is the only solution of the question. In regard to these two cases, we wish to say that science has proved that electricity does not always kill, and that persons addicted to the liquor habit, after long debauches, sometimes relapse into a comatose state, and are to all appearances dead. Statistics show that a great many die annually of these causes, hence the percentage in cases of this kind must be very large. What is the remedy?”

HASTY EMBALMMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The Casket, Rochester, New York, September, 1896, observes:—At different times considerable opposition has been raised against embalming by Boards of Health and other officials in various localities, on account of the haste with which the embalmer proceeds with his duties. A few recent cases of supposed corpses recovering, one of which occurred in Philadelphia, Pa., have revived the question, and it is reported that the Philadelphia Board of Health may take action looking to the enactment of a law prescribing the period of time which should elapse after death before a body should be embalmed.

In a recent issue of the Philadelphia Times, Funeral-Director John J. O’Rourke, a well-known professional of that city, expresses himself on the subject as follows:—

“These two narrow escapes from burial alive have further impressed me with one of the perils attending the disposition of the dead—I mean the danger of hasty embalming. As you know, in most cases the doctor who has had the patient is not called in after death, and very often the relatives of the deceased expect the undertaker, if embalming is to be done, to proceed with it at once. All the embalming schools teach that the only proper way to thus treat the body is by use of fluids through the arteries. But in the lectures on the subject no period that should be permitted to elapse before it is begun is prescribed, and, as a rule, it follows dissolution as quickly as possible.

“I contend that there should be some law or official rule governing the matter, because after the artery is punctured and the fluid goes through the whole body, it is sure to destroy any spark of life that might remain. I have never met with any cases of resuscitation myself, but have had instances of deaths that made me hesitate in the work of embalming. Some months ago a man came to me fifteen minutes after a relative had breathed his last, and asked me to embalm the body. I went to the house, and, after seeing the corpse, refused, saying that I would not do it until after the expiration of twelve hours. The man had died of consumption, yet, for fear of it being a case of suspended animation, I would take no chances.

“At another time a person had died of dropsy. Within half an hour I was summoned. The attending physician had not been there, and twenty-four hours afterwards he gave a certificate of death from cancer. The body was very warm when I arrived, and neighbours who had kindly volunteered to prepare it were doubtful if life was extinct. I had the corpse laid on an embalming table for two hours, and then placed it in what is known as a Saratoga patent box, in which are pans filled with salted ice, so arranged that cold air circulates around the body. Had this been a case of suspended animation, it would have taken several hours to dispel the heat within the corpse.

“Of course there are some supposed unmistakable signs. The only positive signs of dissolution are those which depend on molecular change or death-rigidity of the muscles of the whole body, and putrefaction of the tissues. These are most marked in organs and tissues the vital functions of which are the most active. The action of the heart, the movements of respiration, may be reduced as to be altogether imperceptible, so that the functions of circulation and respiration appear to be arrested. This is occasionally observed in temporary syncope, in which a person to all appearances dead has, after a time, regained consciousness and recovered.

“The peculiar condition of the nervous system called catalepsy, and the state of trance, are likewise further examples of the so-called apparent deaths; but, on the occurrence of actual death, the irritability of the muscles by degrees disappears, electricity no longer excites their contraction, and then cadaverous rigidity sets in.... Some action will, in all probability, be urged upon the next Legislature or upon the Board of Health.”