IN AETICULO MOEII^ 
281 
death, the position of their last natural act of life. The same has 
been observed in the human subject after extreme violence of 
nature, as after lightning-stroke, and for evidence that there is 
truly no consciousness, in such examples we have another and 
decisive line of proof. 
It sometimes happens that the shock of nature, though suffi- 
cient to suspend the consciousness and reduce to the lowest 
degree the physical powers, does still not kill outright, and that 
after some lapse of time the mechanical disturbance of the ani- 
mal organic material ceases ; that the molecules fall back into 
their natural form to reconstitute the natural fabric, and that 
with the gradual restoration of organic structure there is return 
of normal function and what is called recovery from simulated 
death. In time the organ of the mind, also restored, the old 
imagery of the past returns, and down to the moment preced- 
ing the accident the details registered and recognised are cap- 
able of recall, or in other words are remembered. But there the 
memory ceases ; of the swift act that disturbed the matter of 
the body — not with sufficient force to overcome the attraction of 
cohesion wffiich holds the parts together, in organic series, not 
with sufficient force to disorganise, but with sufficient force 
temporarily to modify the organic form required for function — 
no recollection remains. In a word the conditions requisite for 
the production of an impression are at once destroyed by the 
vehemence of the impression. 
I have taken this effect of lightning-stroke as the most ready 
and complete illustration of the truth, that what would seem at 
first a violent and painful death from a purely natural cause is 
absolutely a painless death. But the illustration may be ex- 
tended further — may be extended to all the forms of natural 
violent death. In cases of temporary suspension of life from 
sunstroke and from severe mechanical injuries, the same pheno- 
mena have been observed. The facts of the injury have not 
been recorded ; there has been no period of conscious recogni- 
tion of them ; there has been no recogniton of that act of con- 
sciousness which we call pain. Lastly, to those instances where 
the suspension of life has followed from what would seem the 
much slower process of sudden burial, removal from atmos- 
pheric air, as in drowning, the rule extends. In two examples 
of which I am able to speak from personal observation, and in 
which there was restoration after insensibility, produced by 
sudden immersion in water, the consciousness of all that 
occurred from and after the immersion was entirely lost. The 
same experience has been confirmed by, I think, I may say, all 
observers. 
Thus of Nature it may be safely reported, without entering 
into longer detail, that when in the course of her determined. 
