REVIVAL AFTER APPARENT DEATH.
“In the Bukovina, a young woman, in the vicinity of Radautz, died of spasms of the heart. They waited five days for the funeral, because no signs of putrefaction appeared. The clergyman then refused any longer delay, and the final arrangements for interment were made. Just as they were about to put the coffin into the grave, the sister of the deceased woman, who lived at another place, arrived, and begged to be permitted to see the dead body. Owing to her entreaties the coffin was opened, and as the woman saw the unaltered features of her sister, she asserted her belief that the supposed dead was still living. She procured a red-hot poker, and, in spite of the remonstrances of those present, she touched with it the soles of the feet of the corpse. There was a spasmodic jerk, and the woman recovered. The most remarkable thing was that the supposed dead woman had not been unconscious for a moment, but was able to describe afterwards all the details of what had taken place around her, from the moment when she was supposed to die up to the time of her recovery; but she had looked upon all that like an unconscious spectator, and not experienced any sensation, nor was she able to give any sign of life.”
In “Les Signes de la Mort,” by Dr. E. Bouchut, p. 51, Dr. J. Schmid is cited for the case of a girl, seven years of age, who, while playing with her companions, fell suddenly down (as if struck by lightning), and died. There was paleness, absence of pulse, insensibility to all stimulus. Nevertheless, owing to the requests of the distressed parents, the apparently hopeless attempts at resuscitation were continued. After three quarters of an hour the girl gave a sigh and recovered.
DR. WATERMAN’S CASE.
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.
Professor Alexander Wilder, M.D., in “Perils of Premature Burial,” p. 16, says:—“In this country (America), however, the peril of interment before death has actually taken place is very great. For years past it has been a very common occurrence for persons in supposed good health to fall down suddenly, with every appearance of having died. We do not regard sudden death with terror, as it is so often painless, and exempts the individual from the anxiety and other unpleasant experiences which so often accompany a lingering dissolution. But there is a terrible liability of being prostrated by catalepsy, the counterpart of death, under such circumstances that those who have the body in charge will not hesitate about a prompt interment.”
PREVENTIVE LEGISLATION.