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41
INTRAMURAL BURIAL.
dead dogs floated at high water into the mouth of
a sewer, or stinking fish thrown overboard in
Billingsgate-dock, or the remains of human corpses
undergoing their last chemical changes in consecrated
earth, the previous history of the decomposed
material is of no moment whatever. The
pathologist knows no difference of operation between
one decaying substance and another; so
soon as he recognizes organic matter undergoing
decomposition, so soon he recognizes the most
fertile soil for the increase of epidemic diseases;
and I may state with certainty, that there are many
churchyards in the City of London where every
spadeful of soil turned up in burial sensibly adds
to the amount of animal decomposition, which advances
too often inevitably around us. I have therefore
no hesitation in accounting intramural interments
as one of the influences prevailing against
health within the City of London; and I have no
doubt that it contributes considerably to swell our
lists of deaths from fever and the allied disorders.
Nor can I refrain from adding, as a matter
claiming attention, that in the performance of intramural
interment there constantly occur disgusting
incidents dependent on overcrowdedness of the
burial-ground; incidents, which convert the extremest
solemnity of religion into an occasion for
sickness or horror; perhaps mingling with the
ritual of the Church some clamour of gravediggers