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a person was saved after hanging nineteen minutes。 There was a case of a man brought into the Hopital Saint…Louis asphyxiated by strangulation； having been hung for some time。 His rectal temperature was only 93。3 degrees F。； but six hours after it rose to 101。6 degrees F。； and he subsequently recovered。 Taylor cites the instance of a stout woman of forty…four who recovered from hanging。 When the woman was found by her husband she was hanging from the top of a door； having been driven to suicide on account of his abuse and intemperance。 When first seen by Taylor she was comatose； her mouth was surrounded by white froth； and the swollen tongue protruded from it。 Her face was bloated； her lips of a darkened hue； and her neck of a brown parchment…color。 About the level of the larynx； the epidermis was distinctly abraded； indicating where the rope had been。 The conjunctiva was insensible and there was no contractile response of the pupil to the light of a candle。 The reflexes of the soles of the feet were tested； but were quite in abeyance。 There was no respiratory movement and only slight cardiac pulsation。 After vigorous measures the woman ultimately recovered。 Recovery is quite rare when the asphyxiation has gone so far； the patients generally succumbing shortly after being cut down or on the following day。 Chevers mentions a most curious case； in which cerebral congestion from the asphyxiation of strangling was accidentally relieved by an additional cut across the throat。 The patient was a man who was set upon by a band of Thugs in India。 who； pursuant to their usual custom； strangled him and his fellow…traveler。 Not being satisfied that he was quite dead； one of the band returned and made several gashes across his throat。 This latter action effectually relieved the congestion caused by the strangulation and undoubtedly saved his life； while his unmutilated companion was found dead。 After the wounds in his throat had healed this victim of the Thugs gave such a good description of the murderous band that their apprehension and execution soon followed。
Premature Burial。In some instances simulation of death has been so exact that it has led to premature interment。 There are many such cases on record； and it is a popular superstition of the laity that all the gruesome tales are true of persons buried alive and returning to life； only to find themselves hopelessly lost in a narrow coffin many feet below the surface of the earth。 Among the lower classes the dread of being buried before life is extinct is quite generally felt； and for generations the medical profession have been denounced for their inability to discover an infallible sign of death。 Most of the instances on record； and particularly those from lay journals； are vivid exaggerations； drawn from possibly such a trivial sign as a corpse found with the fist tightly clenched or the face distorted； which are the inspiration of the horrible details of the dying struggles of the person in the coffin。 In the works of Fontenelle there are 46 cases recorded of the premature interment of the living； in which apparent has been mistaken for real death。 None of these cases； however； are sufficiently authentic to be reliable。 Moreover； in all modern methods of burial； even if life were not extinct； there could be no possibility of consciousness or of struggling。 Absolute asphyxiation would soon follow the closing of the coffin lid。
We must admit； however； that the mistake has been made； particularly in instances of catalepsy or trance； and during epidemics of malignant fevers or plagues； in which there is an absolute necessity of hasty burial for the prevention of contagion。 In a few instances on the battle…field sudden syncope； or apparent death； has possibly led to premature interment； but in the present day this is surely a very rare occurrence。 There is also a danger of mistake from cases of asphyxiation； drowning； and similar sudden suspensions of the vital functions。
It is said that in the eighty…fourth Olympiad； Empedocles restored to life a woman who was about to be buried； and that this circumstance induced the Greeks； for the future protection of the supposed dead； to establish laws which enacted that no person should be interred until the sixth or seventh day。 But even this extension of time did not give satisfaction； and we read that when Hephestion； at whose funeral obsequies Alexander the Great was present； was to be buried his funeral was delayed until the tenth day。 There is also a legend that when Acilius Aviola fell a victim to disease he was burned alive； and although he cried out； it was too late to save him； as the fire had become so widespread before life returned。
While returning to his country house Asclepiades； a physician denominated the 〃God of Physic；〃 and said to have been a descendant of aesculapius； saw during the time of Pompey the Great a crowd of mourners about to start a fire on a funeral pile。 It is said that by his superior knowledge he perceived indications of life in the corpse and ordered the pile destroyed； subsequently restoring the supposed deceased to life。 These examples and several others of a similar nature induced the Romans to delay their funeral rites； and laws were enacted to prevent haste in burning； as well as in interment。 It was not until the eighth day that the final rites were performed； the days immediately subsequent to death having their own special ceremonies。 The Turks were also fearful of premature interment and subjected the defunct to every test； among others； one was to examine the contractility of the sphincter and； which shows their keen observation of a well…known modern medical fact。
According to the Memoirs of Amelot de la Houssaye； Cardinal Espinola； Prime Minister to Philip II； put his hand to the embalmer's knife with which he was about to be opened； It is said that Vesalius； sometimes called the 〃Father of Anatomy；〃 having been sent for to perform an autopsy on a woman subject to hysteric convulsions； and who was supposed to be dead； on making the first incision perceived by her motion and cries that she was still alive。 This circumstance； becoming known； rendered him so odious that he had to leave the community in which he practiced； and it is believed that he never entirely recovered from the shock it gave him。 The Abbe Prevost； so well known by his works and the singularities of his life； was seized by apoplexy in the Forest of Chantilly on October 23； 1763。 His body was carried to the nearest village； and the officers of justice proceeded to open it； when a cry he sent forth frightened all the assistants and convinced the surgeon in charge that the Abbe was not dead； but it was too late to save him； as he had already received a mortal wound。
Massien speaks of a woman living in Cologne in 1571 who was interred living； but was not awakened from her lethargy until a grave…digger opened her grave to steal a valuable ring which she wore。 This instance has been cited in nearly every language。 There is another more recent instance； coming from Poitiers； of the wife of a goldsmith named Mernache who was buried with all her jewels。 During the night a beggar attempted to steal her jewelry； and made such