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 w