The cremation of the dead / considered from an aesthetic, sanitary, religious, historical, medico-legal, and economical standpoint

by Hugo Erichsen

Transcriber's Note:

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

A MODERN CINERARY URN.
(Frontispiece.)

THE
CREMATION OF THE DEAD
CONSIDERED
FROM AN ÆSTHETIC, SANITARY, RELIGIOUS, HISTORICAL, MEDICO-LEGAL, AND ECONOMICAL STANDPOINT

BY

HUGO ERICHSEN, M.D.

Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Kingston, Canada; Member of the Committee of Organization of the First International Cremation Congress; Corresponding Member of the Cremation Societies of New York and Berlin; Foreign Associate Member of the Hygienic Society of France; Honorary Member of the Cremation Society of Milan, Italy; etc.

With an Introductory Note

BY

Sir T. SPENCER WELLS, Bart., F.R.S.

Late President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Surgeon to the Queen’s Household; etc.

ILLUSTRATED

Delenda est inhumatio!

DETROIT

D. O. HAYNES & COMPANY

1887

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“Why should we seek to clothe death with unnecessary terror, and spread horror round the tomb of those we love? The grave should be surrounded with everything that might ensure tenderness and veneration.”

—Washington Irving.

“Die Leichenverbrennung verdient die Achtung, welche ihr um ihres hohen Werthes willen im klassischen Alterthum gezollt wurde, auch heute noch, da sie die einzige Art der Todtenbestattung ist, die vor den schrecklichen Folgen der Verwesungsduenste sichert und das bei der Leichenbeerdigung so oft vorgekommene Wiedererwachen im Grabe verhuetet.”

—J. P. Trusen.

“Si nous sommes une statue

Sculptée à l’image de Dieu;

Quand cette image est abattue,

Jetons-en les débris au feu!

Toi, forme immortelle, remonte

Dans la flamme, aux sources du Beau,

Sans que ton argile ait la honte

Et les miséres du tombeau!”

—Théophile Gautier.

Copyright, 1887,

By Hugo Erichsen.

J. S. Cushing & Co., Printers, Boston.

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TO

WILLIAM EASSIE, C.E., F.L.S.,

Honorary Secretary of the Cremation Society of England,

and

DR. PROSPER DE PIETRA-SANTA,

of Paris,

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED

as a mark of high esteem, and in recognition of their untiring labor in behalf of that greatest of all sanitary reforms, cremation, by their sincere admirer,

THE AUTHOR.

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