“BURIED ALIVE.
“Sir,—As this important subject appears to be arresting the attention of the public in England, may I venture to state the law as to the examination of corpses in my own country? In a copy of the official regulations in Würtemburg for the inspection of dead bodies (‘Dienst-Vorschriften für Leichenhaüser in Würtemburg, 1882.’ Stuttgart, W. Kohlhammer), I find the following:—
“‘No corpse must be interfered with before the arrival of the inspector, who is expected to pay several visits before granting the death-certificate, which he alone is authorised to do. In cases of death from infectious disease the body must be removed to a mortuary, where it is carefully watched.’
“These inspectors are highly qualified, State-appointed physicians, but, as if to show the uncertainty of all this care and experience, as we see by the researches of Dormodoff, Hufeland, Hartmann, and others, as well as by the reports of startling cases in the press, those medically and officially declared to be dead do occasionally come to life before burial. This is a state of things unworthy of the civilisation and humanity of which we are proud.
“Medical examination, not being infallible when carried out at its best, must be very unreliable when performed in a careless manner.
“A safer plan would be to send every supposed corpse to a mortuary, there to remain until decomposition manifests itself. As a German I should be afraid to die in England (excuse the paradox) for fear of being buried alive.
“P. P.
“Forest Hill, September 17.”