Premature Burial and How It May Be PreventedTebb, William
Science
Premature Burial and How It May Be Prevented
Tebb, William
Burial, Premature
The _Medical Record_, New York, 1883, vol. xxiii., p. 236, contains
a paper on “Revivification” (in cases of sudden apparent death from
heart-disease, and in the still-born), by S. Waterman, M.D., New York
Case 1, February, 1880.--Mr. B----, aged 84, suffered from valvular
disease of the heart, and likewise from Bright’s disease. “One morning,
while I was sitting at his bedside and in friendly conversation with
him, he being to all appearance in a very happy mood of mind, he
suddenly fell back, his eyes became fixed and glassy, a deadly pallor
crept over his countenance, respiration and the heart’s action ceased
simultaneously, and death seemed to have carried him off suddenly and
unexpectedly. It was this suddenness of the event that impelled me to
make efforts at revivification. Two nephews of Mrs. B----, who were
fortunately in the house, were brought under requisition, and, under
my direction, systematic artificial movements were carried on for
nearly thirty minutes, when one deep inspiratory effort was made by
the patient himself. Thus encouraged, we redoubled our efforts for ten
minutes more; other inspiratory efforts followed in quicker succession;
the heart began to respond. Hardly audible at first, it acquired force
and momentum; it could now be felt at the wrist; the deadly pallor
passed away, the eyes lost their glassy, fixed aspect, sighs and groans
could be heard, twitchings of the muscles of the arm and fingers
could be distinctly felt, and the appearances of death made way for
reanimated conditions. He lay unconscious for more than ten hours,
respiration being hurried, and breathing stertorous, the heart’s action
wild and irregular. During the night he was delirious and restless;
toward morning all untoward symptoms subsided, and a quiet sleep
followed the extreme restlessness.... He died six weeks afterwards,
under symptoms of uræmic toxication. During these six weeks he had
several other attacks--one very prolonged and almost fatal--in which
artificial respiration was resorted to with the same success.”
The editor of the _Manchester Criterion_, December 11, 1895,
says:--“Many cases of sudden death have been entombed who were really
alive, so far as the union of the body and soul is concerned. Sudden
disappearance of life is very common, due to excessive weakness or a
partial cessation of the heart’s action; and doctors should be very
chary in giving death-certificates until it has been ascertained
that decomposition has ensued. Many object to this delay, and on the
approach of an indication of death, or apparent death, often hurry the
body to the grave. We know of a young lady, for whom the shroud was
bought, and the crape fastened on the door, who was restored to life.”
SUDDEN DEATH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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