THE PHENOMENA OF DEATH IN BATTLE. 205 



muscle jelly ? Or has the capacity for spasmodic reaction been 

 exhausted by the previous overexertion of the soldier — volition 

 being cut short by the wound ? 



Some men of science not only admit the validity of the evi- 

 dence offered as to the appearancce of phenomenal rigor under war 

 wounds as well as electric shocks, but assume it as an established 

 physiological fact, without, however, accounting for it. Dr. 

 Mitchell, in his indirect suggestions before mentioned, leaves no 

 reason to doubt that he believes in it. Dr. Brinton and other 

 army surgeons familiar with the phenomenon have speculated as 

 to its causes, and almost all medical men who are not familiar 

 with it in actual experience are curious as to what proof or ex- 

 planations may be produced. 



There is one other form of manifestations of the battlefield 

 almost as unique, though not so startling, as instantaneous rigor, 

 and being more frequently encountered has doubtless impressed 

 itself more widely upon the minds of soldiers and visitants to the 

 field. At first thought it seems but reasonable that the intensity 

 of battle passion and energy should leave its mark upon the 

 forms and features of combatants who die in the midst of the 

 fray. Per contra, it seems odd that corpses made so by violence 

 in the midst of violence should sometimes wear on their faces the 

 peaceful look of calmness usually associated with quiet death- 

 beds. I mentioned in the paper of last year, on wounds, that 

 many of the dead appear to have passed away in a state of mental 

 composure and freedom from pain. Often in contemplating these 

 scenes one is surprised at the contrasts between the happy smile 

 on the dead warrior's face and the blood, the spent missiles, the 

 weapons, and other ghastly symbols of the strife that has passed, 

 lying beside him. Here, again, Nature has wrought a good work. 

 "Wrath is soon spent, the inciting din of battle quickly hushed ; 

 pain and melancholy thoughts, even surprise that life remains, 

 swiftly loosen the chords that once bound the now suffering 

 man to the warrior's terrible trade. Thought, fanciful it may 

 be but yet enchanting, takes him miles and leagues away, the 

 while his torn body lies not ten feet from the cannon that mangled 

 it, and the smoke of the fatal discharge still hovers about the 

 scene. Again he is only a man. He tries bravely to live, for- 

 getting to hate ; makes light of his condition, and may be helps 

 another victim supposed to be worse off than himself. Finally, 

 death steals on while some noble or pleasant thoughts play upon 

 the features. "We sometimes found our dead comrades a long 

 distance away from the landmarks on the spots where they fell. 

 This brings up a practical suggestion. Those who fall asleep 

 peacefully die as we would have them if die they must. They 

 usually, however, show unmistakably that they survived their 



