CREMATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 239, 16 January 1875, Page 2

CREMATION.

An English paper writes : —“ A few days ago, the public learned with regret that the young wife of Sir Charles Dilke had expired after giving birth to a child, and some surprise was felt when it became known that the body of the deceased lady was to be removed to Germany. It is now, however, pretty generally understood that some ulterior motive influenced Sir Charles when he decided on this step. Previous to the removal the body was partially embalmed, under the direction of a well-known monumental sculptor residing near Kensal Green, who has since proceeded to Vienna (where the remains of the late Lady Dilke will ultimately be conveyed), for the purpose of superintending the necessary details previous to the cremation of the body. Iu all probability the task has been by this time duly completed. We believe this is the first instance which has occurred in high life of the adoption of Sir Henry Thompson’s plan for the disposal of dead bodies.” With reference to the first case of cremation of a human body, some dead animals only have been previously experimented upon in Breslau, the Tagellatt, of that city, says : —“ On the 22nd of September, at half past 5 in the evening, the cremation of a corpse took place at the new gas works, in the presence of a large number of the members of the Scientific Association. The soft part of the body disappeared in about half an hour. After an hour the bones and portions of the liver only remained, and these required for complete incineration an hour and ten minutes. The time was somewhat prolonged by the opening of the door tor observation, and the consequent admission of cool air into the chamber. The body weighed 70|lb. (German), the ashes about 31b.