ON THE DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD. 
173 
sense, is with those who adhere to the ancient practice of burial 
in the earth. But in stating this it is proper to admit that 
many important improvements are required in the process of 
modern burial. 
I omit all mention of such improvements as are required 
in mere matters of ceremonial. No argument of science will 
influence men and women on that particular. If cremation or 
embalmment, or any other mode of disposal of the dead, were to 
become the current fashion, the external or ceremonial additions 
might remain, practically, as extravagant as ever. 
Imprimis, I believe it to be entirely unnecessary to remove 
our cemeteries long distances from towns and cities. The 
present arrangements, such as have been carried out during the 
past twenty years, have so far, I believe, met every necessity, 
and a judicious extension of the existing system is probably as 
good as can reasonably be followed. 
The only source of contamination that can come to the living 
from the dead consists in the possible danger of having for a 
town a water supply drained from springs which in their course 
pass through the homes of the dead. But that such a neces- 
sity ever exists is fairly open to doubt. In few places, I presume, 
need the dead be buried at a level above the source of the water 
supply, and when in any given place where, from the water 
supply being from wells only, the cemetery must be above the 
water, the distance at which it is placed from the wells may 
always be sufficient to prevent contamination. Water contain- 
ing organic decomposing matter cannot percolate many yards 
through a good carboniferous soil without being rendered inno- 
cuous. It is from this circumstance that, in the midst of many 
errors as to mode of burial in past times, the occurrence of 
disease from this source of water contamination has been so rare. 
The modern improvements really required in burial are of 
four kinds. They relate : 
Firstly , to the construction of the soil of the cemetery. 
Secondly , to the mode in which the dead should be placed in 
the earth. 
Thirdly , to the superstructure of the soil of the cemetery 
and the vegetation. 
Fourthly , to the method in which monuments to the dead 
should ultimately be set up and preserved. 
The construction of the soil of the burial-ground is of first 
moment, and might readily be made matter of legislation. The 
soil that is most fitting for this purpose is a fine carboniferous 
mould or a mixture of carbon, lime, and sand. In such a soil the 
complete removal of the body might, under proper conditions 
of burial, be secured within a period of ten years, and in such 
a soil renewal of burial might be safely carried out after every 
