It is difficult to believe that, if it had been, some sign of life would not have been observed. Still, the case is a teaching one, even for medical men, and warns us to look for a combination of known tests where any doubt exists as to the fact of death.” The italics are ours. Prof. Alex. Wilder, M.D., in “Perils of Premature Burial,” p. 20, says:-- [DR. ALEXANDER WILDER’S OPINION.] “The signs of total extinction of life are not so unequivocal as many suppose. Cessation of respiration and circulation do not afford the entire evidence, for the external senses are not sufficiently acute to enable us to detect either respiration or circulation in the smallest degree compatible with mere existence. Loss of heat is by no means conclusive; for life may continue, and recovery take place, when no perceptible vital warmth exists.” M. B. Gaubert, in “Les Chambres Mortuaires d’Attente,” p. 187, Paris, 1895, says:-- “One of the most celebrated physicians of the Paris hospitals, according to Dr. Lignières, declares that out of twenty certified deaths, one only presented indubitable characteristics of absolute death.” The difficulty of diagnosis in many cases being allowed renders the obligation and necessity for a radical change in our methods of treating the supposed dead a very urgent one. Medical writers, whilst admitting the unsatisfactory nature of the current practice of medical certification, allege that the remedy lies with Parliament to make compulsory a personal medical inspection of the dead, and to allow a fee as compensation for the trouble. This, however, would be very far from meeting the difficulty. How many general practitioners would be willing to submit half-a-dozen, say, of the eleven tests of death formulated by Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson, in any given case, and if willing, how many, having regard to the fact that these tests are not taught in the Medical Schools, and form no part of the usual medical curriculum, would be competent to make them with the requisite skill? In most of the Continental States there are State-appointed surgeons to examine the dead, _médécins vérificateurs_, and in some of these--Würtemburg, for instance--the official is obliged to examine the corpse several times before his certificate is made out. But notwithstanding this careful official inspection, cases of premature burial and narrow escapes are telegraphed by _Reuter_ and _Dalziel_ every now and then to the English Press, as we have seen, and additional details, with the names and addresses of the victims, are furnished by responsible special correspondents. [CONFUSION OF MEDICAL OPINIONS.]