RomanceEverAfter

Romantic Tales - Historical

To Die or Not to Die

Can you imagine being buried alive?  The very thought sent shivers down the spines of Americans and Europeans during the 19th century.  Their fear was not unfounded as periodically a physician advised that a loved one had "passed" when in reality they were simply comatose or unconscious.  To the shock of friends and family, a loved one would rise from their coffin during a funeral service!

What possible precautions could be taken to make sure a physician's pronouncement was not inaccurate?

Deceased Left in State for Days or Weeks

To avoid a premature, albeit accidental passing, the Victorians created a variety of preventive measures to ensure their safety.  One such example was that a deceased individual would not be immediately buried to make sure they really were deceased.  Some individuals were left in their caskets for days, sometimes even weeks, to ensure the pronouncement was accurate.

The Duke of Wellington, who died in 1852, remained in state for two months before being properly buried.  Goodness, this was certainly over doing it.

Devices Within a Casket for Emergencies!

Not every loved one would be left in state for weeks at a time.  Another alternative was to enclose a crowbar or shovel inside the casket.  The logic was if the deceased awoke to discover their predicament, he could simply dig himself out of his grave.

Another option was to have a pipe leading from the casket up through the ground to the surface.  In this way, communication could be given to those at the top.  

Bateson's Belfry

One devise that apparently sold very well during the period was the Bateson Revival Device.  The instrument consisted of a iron bell that was mounted on the lid of the casket.  The cord was placed in the deceased's hand to pull should the need arise.

It is strange to consider the bizarre ways in which individuals of the 19th century took measures to protect themselves in case of a physician's erroneous pronouncement.  Of course, as medical knowledge and training of doctors increased, such precautions were eventually done away with.

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