Further questions were asked of the same witness by Dr. Farquharson.
Q. 2178—You do not believe in people being buried alive?—I do not think that occurs in Manchester.
Q. 2179—Do you think it occurs anywhere?—I do not know.
Q. 2180—We read occasionally very horrifying descriptions of bodies having been found to have turned in their coffins. How do you explain that?—I am not able to explain it.
A correspondent of the Undertakers’ and Funeral Directors’ Journal, July 22, 1893, p. 92, writes:—
“PREMATURE BURIAL.
“Sir,—The newspapers continue to give us fresh accounts of premature burials. Seeing how frequently cases are heard of (in spite of the exhumations being not one-thousandth per cent. of the interments), the occurrence is probably far more common than is generally supposed. It is, therefore, surprising that medical men have not discovered an infallible evidence of death—whatever the cause of death may be; or a simple means of proving, beyond the possibility of doubt, that life is extinct. Further, the application of such a test should, by law, be made to form part of the certificate of death.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
“Lux.
“July 3.”