Remarks addressed to the Honourable the Corporation of the City of New-York, on a work recently published ... / by Dr. Felix Pascalis, on the subject of interments.

  • D., D.
Date:
1823]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks addressed to the Honourable the Corporation of the City of New-York, on a work recently published ... / by Dr. Felix Pascalis, on the subject of interments. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ADDRESSED TO THE HONOURABLE THE 6'3 l£l CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK ON A WORK RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THIS CITY BY DR. FELIX PASCALIS, ON THE SUBJECT OF INTERMENTS. From the Minerva of August 2,182 r* O9 The work to which your attention is requested, has recently issued from the press, and is published by Mr. Gilley, bookseller in Broadway. As it contains no libels, it is acknowledged by the au¬ thor, printer, and publisher, and will, therefore, be read by such as feel inter¬ ested in the subject, whether they agree with the sentiments of the author or not. 1 am induced to call the attention of the Corporation to the work in question, because they are the guardians of the public, because they have passed an ordinance preventing interments in the city, and because the publication of the volume before me advocates the mea¬ sure. The author, however, has erred in not dedicating his work to the Hon. Corporation, or the Board of Health ; but he has made amends for this by giving “ Our Magistrates and the Board of Health” a due degree of praise in a short preface to the work. As the Dr. differs from many of your honourable body in certain opinions, I should sus¬ pect there was some design in praising your proceedings ; but in looking around, 1 can see nothing in your gift to reward the flatterer, and must, therefore, con¬ clude that he is sincere in bestowing the meed of praise, where it is justly due. As our public authorities often receive the malediction of their constituents, it will no doubt be pleasing to the Corpo¬ ration to be informed that many join with Dr. Pascalis in the justification of their measures, which he eulogizes in the fol¬ lowing words •— “I row beg leave to take this method of con¬ gratulating my fellow-citizens on the firm and wise plan of operations begun by our Magistrates and the Board of Health. In endeavouring to rescue our city from the visitation of malignant fevers, they have scrupulously avoided enlisting themselves under this or that theorist on the origin of summer and fall fevers. With more prudence and philosophy, they strike at the root of every ostensible source of a calamity, that more probably is the effect of a combination of several causes, than the effects of a single one. This procedure has been constituted one of their official duties, by the Legislature in 1813, which directed them “ to regulate or prevent the inter¬ ment of the dead within the city.'’'' May they continue to prosecute their task successfully. Public officers are seldom rewarded with public a pprobation ; and the testimony of upright inten¬ tions, is too often their only recompense; but I hope that these, more fortunate than the general¬ ity, will deservedly enjoy the perfect confidence of the community, and the harmonious concur¬ rence of their fellow-citizens in their measures for the present emergency.” The work, prefaced by the above ob¬ servations, is entitled “ an Exposition of the Dangers of Interment in cities ; illus¬ trated by an account of the funeral rites and customs of the Hebrews, Greeks, Homans, and primitive Christians; by ancient and modern ecclesiastical canons, civil statutes, and municipal regulations ; and by chemical and physical principles. Chiefly from the works of Vicq D’Azyr of France, and Professor Scipione Piat- toli of Modena ; with additions by Felix Pascalis, M. D.” It is composed of three parts. The principal part or body of the work contains fifteen chapters un¬ der distinct heads, followed by a series of notes, and an appendix. It contains a body of facts, illustrations, and reason¬ ings, on the dangerous practice of Inter¬ ments, and there is nothing that so strong-