BURYING ALIVE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1173, 22 August 1884, Page 3

BURYING ALIVE.

The distinguii heel physician Sir Henry Marsh used to describe an event which occured at the beginning of his medical career., many years before he had reached the eminence to which he afterwards attained. i£o was called in by the family doctor—a country practitioner —to attend upon Colonel H ; , struck down suddenly by apoplexy. The tit was ft severe one. All efforts to save the sick man proved un availing; he never rallied, and at the end of a few days to all appearances breathed his last, tin the morning of the funeral the two medical attendants deemed it right, as a last attention, to go and take 'leave of the remains of their patient before the coffin was ,sc:ewed down. The family doctor—a jovial, florid personage, on whom professional oaves sit lightly—had been a friend, and otttimes boon companion, o! the deceased. A bottle of port and glasses stood on a table near the colfiu. “ Ah; my poor friem. !” he said, pouring put a hamper and tossing it oft; *• this was his favourite drink. Rare wine too He knew w hat was good, and never spared it. Many a generous glass have wo had together I'll drink another to his memory,” ho cried;and another and another followed, until the wine so rapidly gulped down, and at so unwonted an hour, began to tell upon the man and m Ite his eyes glisten, and his speech grow thick. Why should you not pledge me now for the last time exclaimed the excited doc or while he approached the corpse, and, to Sir Henry’s inexpressible disgust at such •revolting levity, pressed the glass to the pale lips. The contents went down the Colonel’s throat 1 Sir Henry stood amazed; his eyes, which ho was turning away from the unbecoming spectacle, were riveted on the corpse. The jovial doctor, sobered in a minute, staggered back. “ (Jan a dead man drink I’’ he cried. “Give him more ,—more!” exclaimed Sir Henry, re* covering his presence of mind and seizing the bottle. A tinge so light that,only a medical eye could hj ive do tected it began faintly to suffuse the white face. ho doctor tore away the shroud and placed nis hand upon the heart. There was no movement; but they lifted the bodv out of the coffin and proceeded to adopt the measures proper tor resuscitation Meanwhile the hearse stood at he door; the funeral guests were assembling outside—carriages arriving; while within .all was commotion and suspense—servants hurrying to and fro fetching hot bricks, stimulants, rcstorativ s, in obedience to the doctor's c >mmauds, the latter plying everv means skill coulddevise to keep the flickeriiigspark of life from dying out; and the startled family, half paralysed by the sudden revulsion, standing around, gathered in anxious, silent groans. Breathlessly they watched for tidings. For ft long time the , result seemed doubtful—doubtful whether the hoarse before the door, the gaping coffin, the grave clo lies lying scattered about and trampled under foot, all the grim paraplie naiiaof death, hastily discarded in the first wild moment of hoj.o—might not yet bo needed to fulfil their m .urnful office. But no 1 Breath, pulsation, consciousness, were slowly re--. taming. Colonel H was given back to his family and home, tiili ig again the place that it was thought would know him no nuve. And no-, until:five-and-twenty years had pissed after that memorable morning were his friends summoned—this time to pay him. the last tribute.— Chamber’s \ Journal.

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