SUDDEN DEATH.
THE idea commonly entertained is that with animal bodies there are
only two possible conditions--either life or death; that the presence
of one of these conditions implies the absence of the other; that when
the body has assumed the appearance of death, as during the sudden
suspension of all the functional activities, it must be dead. This
last is far from being true; for all the appearances of death are
fallacious, especially those that accompany so-called sudden death.
All such cases should be challenged as of doubtful character, and held
so till recovery or putrefaction of the tissues proves the presence of
life or of death. This subject is too often treated by medical writers
with indifference. Technically, it is regarded as a failure of the
brain, or lungs, or heart, to perform their functions; popularly, we
say that “the thread of life is snapped asunder;” or it is “the going
out of life,” like the sudden extinguishing of a candle. The author’s
experience, however, at the sick bedside, and in the death-chamber,
has taught him that life leaves the body in a gradual manner, and that
death approaches, and takes the place of life, in one part or organ
after another, thus creeping through the tissues, and sometimes defying
all tests to prove its presence, leaving putrefaction to be its only
sign. There can be no such thing as veritable sudden death, unless the
body is crushed into a shapeless mass, like an insect under foot.
The late Dr. Farr, of the Registrar-General’s Department, London,
says:--“No definition of the sense in which _sudden death_ is
practically understood by coroners has been given.” Dr. Granville says:
“The writers on medical jurisprudence do not state with any strictness
what they mean by sudden death, whether it be death in ten minutes,
ten hours, or ten days.”[9] And he asks in the same vein, “Does sudden
death mean death in three minutes, three hours, or three days?”[10]
Still further he remarks regarding the customary definitions, “They
lead one to infer that a certain mysterious principle, called LIFE,
has been instantaneously withdrawn from a healthy and well-constituted
individual, who was at the very moment, as heretofore, exercising his
proper animal functions with a regularity that promised to endure for a
long continuance of years.... No such phenomena occur in Nature, unless
through violence or from accident. Under Nature’s laws there is no such
thing as sudden death.... In every case where death has abruptly cut
short the thread of life, there has been a preparation, more or less
antecedent to the occurrence, which must inevitably have led to it....
The victim may seem to have been struck down, as if by lightning. But
in reality the event was only the natural termination of an inward
state of things which insidiously and unexpectedly was preparing the
blow.”[11]
[DR. TIDY ON CAUSES OF DEATH.]
Dr. Tidy, in “Legal Medicine,” p. 29, says:--“As a rule, the action
required to bring about complete molecular death--_i.e._, the
suspension of vital activity in every part--is progressive. In a
given case, therefore, we are unable to state any definite time as
the period of its occurrence. The popular idea of death is that the
entire body dies at once. Somatic death is an impossibility.” Thus,
it is clear that the process of death, or the departure of life, may
require days or weeks for its completion; and it may even be delayed
to a time when putrefaction has set in quite generally, as when the
hair and nails grow after the body has been buried some weeks, as has
been credibly reported. Writers upon so-called sudden death recite a
number of diseases and conditions which quickly destroy the machinery
that carries on the vital functions, thus rendering resuscitation quite
impossible. Tidy[12] names some twelve of such causes: prominent among
them are diseases of the heart, rupture of the heart, clots in the
blood vessels, aneurisms, effusions of blood in the brain, bursting of
visceral abscesses, ulcers of the stomach, extra-uterine pregnancy,
rupture of the uterus or bladder, large draughts of cold water taken
when the body is heated, cholera, alcoholic poisoning, mental emotions,
etc. But he remarks upon these causes--“Because a person dies suddenly,
there being no evidence of violence or poison, the action adopted by
many coroners in not requiring a _post-mortem_ examination leaves
the most important witness--the dead body itself--unheard, and the
inquest so far valueless.” Which may mean that, without the risk of an
autopsy, it is impossible in such cases to determine whether they are
beyond resuscitation or not, unless putrefaction settles the question.
Unfortunately there is nothing in the external appearance of those
cases of so-called sudden death in which the vital machinery may be
totally wrecked, to distinguish them from those of apparent death,
in which all the organism is in a state of perfect integrity, and in
which resuscitation is possible, provided the vital principle has not
entirely left the body. Consequently, the only safe rule to observe
in all cases in which death has not followed poisoning, or injuries
which kill outright, or some known disease of sufficient duration and
severity to bring on dissolution, is to wait for unmistakable evidences
of decomposition before autopsy, embalming, cremation, or burial is
allowed.
In former times precipitate interments of persons who died suddenly
were specially guarded against.
Nothing is more common, on opening a newspaper, than to see one or more
announcements of sudden death. These occurrences are so frequent that
the great London dailies, except when an inquest is held, or when the
deceased is a person of note, omit to record them. The narratives are
much alike: the person, described to be in his usual health, is seized
with faintness in the midst of his daily-avocation, and he falls down
apparently dead; or he retires for the night, and is found dead in his
bed. In many instances _post-mortems_ are made, and an inquest held;
but in other cases the opinion of the attendant doctor, that the death
is due to heart-disease, syncope, asphyxia, coma, apoplexy, or “natural
causes,” is deemed sufficient. The friends who are called in to look at
the body will remark, “how natural and how life-like,” “how flexible
the limbs,” “how placid the face;” and, without the faintest attempt
at resuscitation, arrangements are made for an early burial.
[DR. WILDER ON SUDDEN DEATH.]
Dr. Alexander Wilder, Professor of Physiology and Psychology, in
a letter to the author, says:--“There are a variety of causes for
sudden death. The use of tobacco is one. Another is overtaxed nervous
system. Men of business keep on the strain till they drop from sheer
exhaustion. At the base of the brain is a little nerve-ganglion, the
medulla oblongata, which, once impaired, sends death everywhere.
Overtaxing the strength by study and mental stress will do this. The
solar ganglion below the diaphragm is the real vital focus of the body.
It is first to begin, last to die. A blow on it often kills. An emotion
will paralyse it. Even undue excess at a meal, or the use of overmuch
alcohol, may produce the effect.
“Tobacco impairs the action of the heart. An overfull stomach
paralyses the ganglionic store, and breathing is likely to stop. It is
dangerous in such cases to lie on the back. All these deaths are by
heart-failure.” It is syncope where the heart fails first; asphyxia
where the lungs are first to cease; coma when the brain is first
at fault. “Natural causes” and “heart-failure” usually mean, like
“congestion,” that the doctor’s ideas are vague.
Dr. Wilder continues:--“I would choose such a death if I could be sure
it was death. _But most of those things which I have enumerated may
cause a death which is only apparent._”
The following briefly extracted cases from English papers are typical
of thousands of others, and can be duplicated, with slight variation
in terms, throughout the United States. The absolute proof of the
reality of such deaths is not found in hasty diagnosis or in medical
certificates, but in the presence of putrefaction:--
“SUDDEN DEATH AT ST. AUSTELLS.
“Mr. P. G---- died suddenly yesterday. Apparently in his ordinary
health, he had been busily occupied during the morning; went upstairs,
and was found lying on his face on the floor. Dr. Jeffery was called,
and pronounced life extinct, and expressed the opinion that death
arose from syncope.”--_Western Morning News, September 14, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH IN PEASCOD STREET.
“An inquiry was held as to the circumstances attending the death of W.
P----, which took place suddenly the previous evening. The deceased
was forty-three years of age, and invariably enjoyed good health,
except that he complained of headache at times. The jury returned a
verdict of death from natural causes.”--_Windsor Express, September
21, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“T. B---- was seized with sudden illness after retiring to rest, and
expired before medical aid could be obtained. Deceased had been in his
accustomed health, had been at work all day, and had eaten a hearty
supper before retiring to rest. The Coroner was communicated with;
but, as death was certified to be due to heart-disease, no inquest was
necessary.”--_Middlesex County Times, October 2, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A SERVANT.
“The deceased, L. E----, aged twenty, retired on Sunday evening in her
usual state of good health. In the morning she was found insensible,
and, when the doctor arrived, shortly afterwards, he found life to
be extinct. Evidence was given to show that she had previously been
perfectly bright, cheerful, and well. Verdict of the jury, that
‘Deceased died from failure of the action of the heart in the natural
way.’”--_Harrogate Advertiser, October 12, 1895._
“AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH NEAR AMBLESIDE.
[TYPICAL EXAMPLES.]
“Mr. H----, who had been remarkably cheerful during the day, was just
in the act of lighting his pipe to enjoy a smoke, when his head fell
back, and he died in a moment. The family doctor certified to the
cause of death.”--_Lancaster Guardian, October 12, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH AT SEA.
“Mr. R. B. Tobins, the County Coroner, held an inquiry at the
Guildhall, Plymouth, concerning the sudden death of P. E----.
The deceased was sixty years of age, and was speaking to William
Parkinson, when he began to cough, and passed away suddenly. Witness
never knew deceased to be ill. Dr. Williams made a superficial
examination of the body, and attributed death to heart-disease.
Verdict: ‘Natural causes.’”--_The Western Mercury, Plymouth, October
22, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH AT TWICKENHAM.
“Lieutenant S. C. G---- fell down and expired suddenly while walking
near Kneller Hall, yesterday afternoon. Deceased was forty-four years
of age, and had been in his usual health.”--_Daily News, November 1,
1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH AT FOREST OF DEAN.
“Mr. J. W. W---- died very suddenly. He was forty-five years of age;
in his usual health and spirits on Monday; slept well; got up at five;
told Mrs. W. W---- he was giddy; felt ill; went to bed; and died in
her arms in a few minutes.”--_Western Press Bristol, November 1, 1893._
“SUDDEN DEATH, WESTON-SUPER-MARE.
“Mrs. E. T---- was found dead in her bedroom. She appeared ‘all right’
when she retired to rest on Monday evening.”--_Bristol Times and
Mirror, November 7, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH AT NELSON.
“The East Lancashire Coroner has received notice of the death of Ann,
the wife of T. B----. She retired to bed apparently all right on
Friday night. At two a.m. on Saturday the husband, who was awakened
by the crying of the baby, went to his wife’s bedroom and found her
dead, she having apparently died in her sleep.”--_Lancashire Express,
Blackburn, November 11, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“A painful shock was caused at Lowestoft last evening by the sudden
death of Mr. T. R.----, who was forty-seven years of age, and
apparently in his usual health. He drove out to pay a visit, but death
took place a few minutes after his arrival.”--_Morning Advertiser,
November 19, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH AT LLANDERFEL.
“Mr. D. L---- was found dead in bed on Sunday morning at half-past
eight. The deceased, who was fifty-four years of age, was apparently
in the best of health on Saturday, and had come on a visit to his
daughter. The verdict at the inquest was: ‘Death from natural
causes.’”--_Western Mail, Cardiff, November 19, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“On Tuesday morning, between nine and ten o’clock, A. S----,
thirty-six, was in her bedroom apparently in her usual health, when
she suddenly fell back against a chair and expired.”--_Portsmouth
Mail, November 28, 1893._
“DIED AT HIS WORK.
“Yesterday the district Coroner was notified of the death of T. C.
F----, aged thirty-nine, a butcher. F---- was cutting some meat on
the block when he suddenly fell backwards dead. He had always enjoyed
excellent health.”--_Sun., November 29, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH AT EAST GRINSTEAD.
“Mr. W. P----, a carpenter, died suddenly yesterday morning. He was
engaged at a light task at his bench, apparently in his usual health,
when about ten o’clock he was seen to fall backwards. The doctor on
arriving could only pronounce life extinct.”--_Sussex Daily News,
December 4, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“W. D. D---- died suddenly yesterday morning. Deceased appeared to be
in his usual health when he retired on Monday. About half-past six in
the morning he was supplied with a cup of tea, and an hour later was
found dead in bed. Dr. R---- was called in, and said death was due to
natural causes.”--_Dundee Advertiser, December 4, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A TRAM CONDUCTOR ON DUTY.
“A shock was occasioned the passengers as they were proceeding to
town this morning by the sudden death of the conductor in charge.
The deceased, J. D----, whose age is twenty-nine, had always been
a steady, faithful servant, an army reserve man, and _suffered
from no ailment, and certainly not from one likely to cause sudden
death_.”--_Daily Argus, Birmingham, December 5, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A WALSALL LABOURER.
“On Tuesday, E. W----, aged thirty-six, retired to bed to all
appearances in his usual health. His wife tried to awaken him about
a quarter past seven on the following morning, but found that her
husband was dead.”--_Wolverhampton Evening News, December 6, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A COLLIERY MANAGER.
“Last night Mr. A. B. Stouth held an inquest concerning the death of
T. S----. The deceased, who was described _as a very healthy man_,
went to the colliery shortly after six o’clock; he conversed freely
with the workmen, and when in the act of taking off his coat he fell
down and died. The verdict, without _post-mortem_ was returned: ‘Died
from natural causes.’”--_Birmingham Daily Gazette, December 10, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A VICAR.
“The Rev. T. S. C----, of Salop, died very suddenly at his residence.
He attended to his usual duties in the morning, apparently in the
full enjoyment of health, and in the afternoon conducted a funeral.
Immediately upon his return he was taken ill, and died a few minutes
afterwards.”--_Daily Argus, Birmingham, December 16, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A RAILWAY EMPLOYEE.
“A painfully sudden death occurred at Hounslow. A. H----, aged
nineteen, clerk, started from home to attend his duties at the office,
apparently in robust health. At about eight o’clock, whilst sitting
between two companions at a table, he suddenly fell forward and
expired.”--_Hounslow Chronicle, December 21, 1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
“A painful sensation was created at Leicester yesterday by the
discovery that Mr. R. M----, a leading Wesleyan, had been found dead
in his bed. He was apparently in excellent health when he retired,
after a light supper.”--_Middlesborough Daily Gazette, December 30,
1895._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“Major Taylor held an inquest on C. N. W---- yesterday. The deceased
was described as a fine healthy boy. On Sunday forenoon he was placed
on his grandmother’s knee to nurse, when he fell back and expired. A
verdict of death from natural causes was returned.”--_Evening Press,
York, January 1, 1896._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“Yesterday, Mr. Reilly, Coroner, held an inquest on H. A. C----. It
appeared that the servant, in passing his room, heard him moaning.
Medical aid was procured, but he died in a few minutes. Deceased was
in the enjoyment of robust health previously. Verdict: ‘Death from
natural causes.’”--_Irish Times, Dublin, January 3, 1896._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“Mr. H. W---- was suddenly taken ill between five and six yesterday
evening, apparently suffering from an apoplectic fit, and expired in
a few minutes. Mr. W---- was a gentleman enjoying most robust health,
and earlier in the afternoon was chatting genially with several of
his friends. An inquest will probably not be necessary.”--_Darlington
North Star, January 17, 1896._
“SUDDEN DEATH.
“The City Coroner held an inquiry on Saturday at the Stanley Arms
relative to the death of Alice M. A----, aged twenty-eight, who died
suddenly. On Friday she seemed in good health and spirits. From an
internal examination of the body Dr. Miller was of opinion that she
died of syncope or failure of the heart’s action. Verdict: ‘Death
from natural causes; to wit, heart-disease.’”--_Eastern Daily Press,
Norwich, January 20, 1896._
[RECENT CASES OF SUDDEN DEATH.]
Amongst other sudden deaths more recently reported are:--R. F----,
of Torquay, described as “a man of exceptional physique, who had
every appearance of possessing a very robust constitution.”--F.
P. C---- “looked more than usually robust of late, had never been
known to complain of his head, and appeared in the best of health
and spirits.”--W. W----“had always appeared to enjoy good health,
with the exception of a cough.”--O. P----, “beyond failing appetite,
had given no indication of ill health.”--W. M----“was in his usual
health, and went to bed all right.”--Mrs. T. B---- “was in the best
of health, and was attending to her household duties.”--L. T----, “a
powerfully-built fisherman, and most unlikely to come to such a sudden
termination of life.”--M. J. M----, at East Garston. “A _post-mortem_
was made by Dr. K. and his assistant, but they were unable to find any
evidence as to the cause of death. Verdict: ‘Natural causes.’”--The
sudden death, while playing the pianoforte, of a girl, aged twelve,
“who had never had a day’s illness in her life.”--S. G----“was quite
well, and in excellent spirits.”--T. B. B---- was “a robust man, and
had not been ailing.”--G. R---- was “in excellent health and spirits,
and attended to his duties as usual.”--A little girl, M. B----, who
appeared to be in her usual health, died very suddenly while sleeping
in a cot by the side of her parents. Verdict at the inquest: “Death
from natural causes.”--A. S----, aged twenty-three, a strong young
fellow, who went to rest before eleven o’clock. About one o’clock the
following morning he was seized with pain, became unconscious, from
which he succumbed.--R. J. C----, labourer, “a fine, robust-looking
man,” suddenly expired before medical aid could be procured. Verdict
at inquest: “Died suddenly from natural causes.”--Mrs. R----, “who
was quite well when her daughter left the room, was found dead on her
return a few minutes later.”--T. H----, blacksmith, “went to bed in his
usual health and spirits” in company with a comrade, who on attempting
to wake him in the morning found life extinct.
The above are given simply as typical examples of a class of cases of
which thousands might be cited, but it has not been thought necessary
to weary the reader with the details of further instances.
While it is not suggested that the foregoing are cases of premature
burial, yet it is absolutely certain that they belong to the category
of persons of whom a considerable percentage are liable to such
misadventures unless precautions very different from those in vogue are
taken to prevent them. All medical practitioners allow that a man may
be half drowned or half dead, and that cases of suspended animation
occur where the most experienced physician is unable to detect the
faintest indication of breathing or cardiac movement. They are,
however, quite sceptical as to absolute suspensions of life where all
the ordinary methods to test its existence fail; and, owing to this
scepticism, and the readiness to give certificates of death in cases of
alleged sudden death, have unwittingly promoted premature burials, as
will appear by the facts quoted in these pages.
[HASTY BURIAL CONDEMNED.]
Mr. M. Cooper, in the “Uncertainty of the Signs of Death,” p. 49,
cites from a letter by one William Fabri, a surgeon, the opinion that
we “... have just reason to condemn the too precipitate interment of
persons overpowered by lethargies, apoplexies, or suffocation of the
matrix; for I know there have been some, supposed to be irretrievably
cut off by these disorders, who, resuming strength and returning to
life, have raised the boards of their own coffins, because in such
disorders the soul only retires, as it were, to her most secret and
concealed residence, in order to make the body afterwards sensible
that she had not entirely forsaken it.” These wise counsels were
written two hundred and sixty-eight years ago, since which time
thousands of our fellow-creatures have, it is feared, been the victims
of premature interment, and yet the danger then pointed out remains.
The _Undertakers’ and Funeral Directors’ Journal_, the conductors of
which are laudably anxious to keep their profession from the odium
of burying people alive, referring to sudden deaths and this danger,
says, in its issue of January 24, 1894, under the head of “A Burning
Question”:--“Sufferers from such chronic ailments as are reputed to
end suddenly are in constant danger from the present state of the
law, if they are in the hands of people interested in their death.”
And continues: “Even where a medical certificate is obtained, such
general laxity has entered into proceedings that but little protection
is thereby afforded to the public. While the medical man is bound
to state what he believes to be the cause of death, he is under no
obligation to make sure either that the patient is dead at all, or
that, if dead, he died from a particular disease for which he was
attending him.”
VIVISECTION.
The _Medical Times and Gazette_, 1859, vol. xviii., p. 256, has the
following:--
“A CRIMINAL’S HEART.
“We find in an account taken from the ‘Boston Medical and Surgical
Journal’ some observations on the heart of a hanged criminal,
which are remarkable in a moral point of view, as well as in their
scientific aspect. The man died, it appears, as the phrase is, without
a struggle; and, therefore, probably in the first instance, he fell
into a syncope. The lungs and brain were found normal. Seven minutes
after suspension, the heart’s sounds were distinctly heard, its
pulsations being one hundred a minute; two minutes later they were
ninety-eight; and in three minutes sixty, and very feeble. In two
minutes more the sounds became inaudible. The man was suspended at ten
o’clock, and his body was cut down twenty-five minutes afterwards.
There was then neither sound nor impulse. At 10.40 the cord was
relaxed, and then the face became gradually pale; the spinal cord was
uninjured.... At 11.30 a regular movement of pulsation was observed in
the right subclavian vein; and on applying the ear to the chest, there
was heard a regular, distinct, and single beat, accompanied with a
slight impulse. Hereupon Drs.. Clark, Ellis, and Shaw open the thorax,
and expose the heart, which still continues to beat! The right auricle
contracted and dilated with energy and regularity. At twelve o’clock
the pulsations were forty in a minute; at 1.45 five per minute. They
ceased at 2.45; but irritability did not entirely disappear until
3.18, more than five hours after suspension. ‘This fact,’ says M.
Séquard, ‘demonstrates that in a man, unfortunately, even when syncope
exists for some minutes at the commencement of strangulation, the
ventricles of the heart cease to beat almost as quickly as they do
in strangulation without syncope.’ With regard to the moral aspects
of this case, the same gentleman remarks:--‘People will probably be
surprised that the body of this man should have been opened while the
beating of the heart was still audible. We will not ask here if the
doctors committed or not a blamable action; we will only say that
we know them personally, and that, if they have in part merited the
violent reproaches addressed to them, they are, nevertheless, _hommes
de cœur_, who, in an excess of scientific zeal, did not notice that
the body upon which they experimented was not, perhaps, at the time a
dead body.’”
SYNCOPE.
The deaths attributed to syncope in the Registrar-General’s reports for
England and Wales during the last six years are:--
MALES. FEMALES.
1888 817 896
1889 939 922
1890 1,237 1,250
1891 1,355 1,301
1892 941 943
1893 848 770
[DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO SYNCOPE.]
Syncope, however, is not a disease, though often certified as such,
but is merely a symptom of certain maladies, or a manifestation of
suspended animation from unascertained cause. In Hoblyn’s “Dictionary
of Medical Terms,” p. 632, syncope is described as--“Fainting or swoon;
a sudden suspension of the heart’s action, accompanied by cessation
of the functions of the organs of respiration, internal and external
sensation, and voluntary motion.” There appears, therefore, every
probability that, with careless or ignorant medical practitioners,
syncope is not seldom mistaken for trance, and a certificate of death
may be given where there is merely a suspension and not a termination
of life; and this probability is reduced to a certainty when we
learn the number of premature burials and narrow escapes reported by
Winslow, Bruhier, Köppen, E. Bouchut, Lénormand, F. Kempner, Moore
Russell Fletcher, Gannal, Gaubert, Hartmann, and other recognised
authorities. Dr. James Curry, Senior Physician to Guy’s Hospital, and
Lecturer on the Theory and Practice of Medicine, in the introduction
to his “Observations on Apparent Death,” London, 1815, 2 ed., p. 1,
says--“The time is still within the recollection of many now living
when it was almost universally believed that _life_ quitted the body in
a very few minutes after the person had ceased to breathe. Remarkable
examples to the contrary were, indeed, upon record; but these, besides
being extremely rare, were generally cases wherein the _suspension_,
as well as the _recovery of life_, had occurred _spontaneously_; they
were, therefore, beheld with astonishment, as particular instances of
Divine Interposition.” It is believed that the majority of the members
of the medical profession still entertain the idea that a human being
is dead when breathing can no longer be detected, as in the cases of
reported sudden deaths; and, except in those which occur from drowning,
or suffocation through noxious gases, attempts are very rarely made
to promote restoration, and, unless they return to life spontaneously
while above ground, there are good reasons to fear that an appreciable
number do so under ground. The prevailing belief in the existence of
sudden deaths is one of the chief causes of the terrible mistakes
that lead to live burials. If this delusive idea were removed, those
concerned, such as physicians, undertakers, relatives, and friends,
would treat a person who unexpectedly took on the appearance of death
as one needing careful attention by physician and nurse to bring him
round to health again, as is usually done in cases of fainting. If
trance were understood, doctors would be on the lookout for it; but,
as it is not understood, it is called death, and we bury our mistakes
under ground.
Dr. Hilton Fagge, while doubting whether there is any foundation for
the strong fear which many persons entertain of being buried alive
after supposed death, allows that there is danger in cases of sudden
death. In his “Principles and Practice of Medicine,” Dr. Fagge says:
“The cases really requiring caution are some very few instances of
persons found in the streets, or losing consciousness unexpectedly and
in unusual circumstances.”[13]
Dr. Léonce Lénormand, in “Des Inhumations Précipitées,” p. 86, says
that medical archives record details of a great number of apoplectic
cases revived after one, two, and three days’ apparent death; and
observes that the most celebrated physicians, both ancient and modern,
agree in recommending delay in the burial of persons who succumb to
this affliction.
Dr. Franz Hartmann, in his “Premature Burial,” p. 11, quotes the
following:--
[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.]
“The difficulty of distinguishing a person apparently dead from one
who is _really_ so has, in all countries where bodies are interred
precipitately, rendered it necessary for the law to assist humanity.
Of several regulations made on this subject, a few of the most recent
may suffice--such as those of Arras in 1772; of Mantua in 1774; of
the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1775; of the Senechaussée of Sivrai in
Poitou in 1777; and of the Parliament of Metz in the same year....
These edicts forbid the precipitate interment of persons who die
suddenly. Magistrates of health are to be informed, that physicians
may examine the body; that they may use every endeavour to recall
life, if possible, or to discover the cause of death.”--_Encyclopædia
Britannica, quoted by John Snart in Apparent Death, 1824, pp. 81-82._