FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 922, 25 February 1882, Page 3

FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

The Woollongong (N.S.W.) Argus is responsible for the following : " Instances of suspended animation, otherwise a state of trance are occasionally narrated in medical works, but a more extraoidinary case of this nature than that we are about to relate, upon the authority of the actor, does not often occur. Our informant, ac - companied by his wife and family, proceeded to Sydney during the late Shortly after reaching their destination, during the father's absence, a younger child fell suddenly ill. A medical man was called in to attend the sufferer, and during his visit the patient breathed his last. About the time of this occurrence the father returned home, and a few minutes after the death of his child had been reported to him he fell down apparently dead. The doctor who had been attending the child examined the father, and pronounced life extinct. From some cause or other the family were not satisfied, and another medial man was then called in, who, upon examination, confirmed the opinion expressed by medical man in chaige. After the second examination those present could not entertain any doubt that death had taken place An undertaker was called in and preparations were he'ng made for the interment. Shortly after the departure of the medical men, the lady of the i house recollected her husband some years previously having exacted a solemn promise from her, that in the event of his sudden death she would have the matter put beyond a doubt by medical experiment. Acting on this longforgotten promise, a third medical man —one of the most eminent in Sydney—was called in, and after applying the ordinary tests, coincided with the opinions alrealy given. iTe opened a vein .in.the arm,..but.to.no_purpoa.e. As a final test he made an incision along the vertebree, and, no doubt, to his intense astonishment, the apparently dead man showed signs of animation. After the application of remedies which were considered necessary under the circumstances, the patient woke up next morning, feel nig languid and tired, but otherwise in his ordinary health. The duration of the period of suspen led animation was about ten hours. To conclude the singular narrative, our informant proceeded next morning to the undertaker's to countermand the order for his own coffin."