State of things thirty years ago--The new cemeteries--Space allowed for, and the depths of interments--Vault burial--A well-chosen cemetery--An improperly-chosen one--The closing and regulation of old burial-grounds, &c.--Materials for coffins 41-52 CHAPTER IV. DANGERS OF OUR SYSTEM OF BURIAL. Churchyards and the evils resulting from some of them--How the living are affected by them--Disorders caused by putrid emanations--Dangers of inhaling the atmosphere of some burial-grounds--Vaults--Poisoning of wells and water-courses--Laxity of many interments 53-67 CHAPTER V. PRESENT STATE OF THE QUESTION. Promoters of the practice of Cremation and prospects of its adoption in Italy--In Switzerland--In France--In Belgium--In Austria--In Germany--In America--In England--Sir Henry Thompson's work--The Cremation Society of London, its objects, &c. 68-88 CHAPTER VI. CREMATION, ANCIENT AND MODERN. Ancient modes of cremation as illustrated by recent burnings in Italy, India, Siam, and North America--Modern experiments in Italy, Germany, and England--The Siemens' apparatus, its construction, perfect working, and economy--Proposed procedure--Disposal of the ashes--Description of cinerary vessels, old and new--Conclusion--Bibliography of the subject 89-130 ILLUSTRATIONS. (_All at end of book._) PLATE I. VIEW OF A SIEMENS' APPARATUS (GERMAN PATTERN). II. SIEMENS' APPARATUS (ENGLISH PATTERN). III. SKETCH OF MORTUARY CHAPEL. IV. URNS. V. SKETCH OF FAMILY COLUMBARIUM, OR NICHE IN PRIVATE CHAPEL. VI. URNS IN THE CRYPT AND CHURCH. CREMATION OF THE DEAD. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. Cremation of the dead is neither new in theory nor in practice. In the England of modern times, however, the question has only recently assumed recognised importance. And the more one considers cremation, the more one finds himself wondering how it has come to pass that we practise burial, with its many faults, and do not burn our dead. Thousands amongst us are now beginning to feel thankful that the dead are soon to 'rule our spirits from their urns' in a realistic and not alone in a poetical sense. They think there is something majestic and even pleasurable in the idea that it will ere long be possible, on all civilised shores, to leave their mother earth, not with a partial, but with a fully consummated sacrifice upon her altar, bidding her adieu none the worse, but rather the better, for their sojourn with her. They groan and labour under the burden of enforced burial, and 'hail with satisfaction and joy the prospect that a chariot of fire may receive them instead of the cold and darksome grave.'