CREMATE THE DEAD 319 



the graveyard. By examination it is found that 

 the water of the spring is poisoned by subsoil drain- 

 age from the graveyard. Hence the mischief. 



The water is abandoned, a new and wholesome 

 supply obtained, with the result that the sickness 

 disappears. 



Such examples might be multiplied to any ex- 

 tent. They probably exist, more or less, all over 

 the world. The magnitude of the danger incurred 

 is not easily told. 



A similar danger, incident to all burial places, 

 springs from the gases of the decaying bodies. 

 These gases rise to the surface, escape into the air, 

 and may be breathed. 



Pasteur buried the bodies of sheep that died of 

 splenic fever, six feet deep. Around the grave he 

 erected a small enclosure. Within the enclosure 

 he placed a well sheep which had not been exposed 

 to the fever. The well sheep was soon infected by 

 the germs that rose to the surface in the gases, and 

 died. The experiment was repeated many times 

 with the same result. 



The French scientist made these experiments to 

 show the great need of cremating the bodies of 

 sheep, or other animals, dying of this fever. Bury- 

 ing the bodies in pastures, or places frequented by 

 the well animals, was exposing the well animals to 

 the disease, and a sure means of spreading it. But 

 burning the bodies killed all germs, prevented all 

 danger. 



But exactly the same conditions prevail with hu- 



