Seasonable considerations on the indecent and dangerous custom of burying in churches and church-yards. With remarkable observations historical and philosophical ... Proving, that the custom is not only contrary to the practice of the ancients, but fatal, in case of infection / [Anon].

  • Lewis, Thomas, 1689-1749?
Date:
1721
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Seasonable considerations on the indecent and dangerous custom of burying in churches and church-yards. With remarkable observations historical and philosophical ... Proving, that the custom is not only contrary to the practice of the ancients, but fatal, in case of infection / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    laft Peftilence at London, Anno 1665, the very Carcaf* fes when dead would weep out, as it were, the mor- bous Ferment both through the ctitaneous Pores and the lachrymal Duels of the Eyes. Thefe Effluvia from the Dead naturally tend to de- flroy the Life of others; and that is really the Rea- fon Men naturally abhor the Sight or Touch of the Dead, the natural Spirit of Life is afraid of a Dead Body, and has an Abhorrence of it ; for a Dead Body has a Scent, which is the Steam that comes from it, which is very difagreeable to Life, and that even of the pureft Corps; but muff be dangerous when the Body labour’d under any violent Diftemper. From this natural Fear, humane Flefh being dead, feems to be much colder to our Touch than any other Flefh whatever, nay, even colder than Ice itfelf; nay more, though a Dead humane Body be warmed before the Fire, yet at our Touch we Hi all perceive it cold; and this proceeds from a natural Terrour we have, our Spi¬ rits flying from its greateft Enemy Death, and fearing fome Corruption fatal might be communicated from the Dead to us. ’ ; Thefe Effluvia of Dead Bodies, being received, caufe an Infection, and upon the Infedlion the Spirit is, feared, Parts back and hides itfelf, but (hikes a Ter-* ror on the Imagination, which conftantly works, and too often falls under the Burden of the Apprehenfion, and by fearing of Danger falls into Danger : And hence it is (a) that the mod ccuragious and bold, in Times of Epidemick Diftempers and Peflilences efcape, while the timerous and fearful fall an eafy Prey to the Contagion. Powerful is the Influence which the Effluvia of the Dead have upon the Living; for in fiance, a Woman dying of the Flux of the Loches, X fpeak it with all (a) Sennertus Lib. de PeJIe, C. i. Hiemerbrook Lib. 1. Cap %+Seft, y, iov die