Intramural interments in populous cities, and their influence upon health and epidemics / by John H. Rauch.

  • Rauch, John H. (John Henry), 1828-1894.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Intramural interments in populous cities, and their influence upon health and epidemics / by John H. Rauch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    cite them to emulate the deeds of those whom the State had decreed illustrious. Experience had taught the Romans that they could not, with safety to the living, indulge in the interment of the dead among themselves and their dwellings. This, with their religious sentiments, caused them to remove the places of burial some distance from the city. It was a special privilege granted by the Senate to particular persons, that they be buried within the walls. The examples of Numa and Servius Tullus prove that they regarded the practice as injurious — they directly requesting to be buried without the city. In- humation and cremation were alike practiced at this time by the Romans. Many of the remains of ancient Rome, now to be seen, were reared as memorials of respect and as religious observances for the dead, and at- test their desire for the promotion of the public health. The customs and usages of the Romans in relation to the modes of burial, with few exceptions, continued in force until the reign of the Caesars ; and it is evident that Rome, at that time, was better protected against the occurrence of epidemics than many cities of modern times. Many of the Greeks and Romans had an idea that their souls could not be admitted into the Elysian Fields until their bodies were committed to the earth. Cremation and simple interment were also Druidical and ancient British forms. Woden enacted laws for burying the dead. Property was buried with the dead, from the persuasion that the soul was immortal and would stand in need of these things in the other life. Such is also the custom and belief of many of the Indian tribes of this country. The introduction of Christianity made a great altera- tion in the modes of disposing of the dead. Crema- 2