Buried Alive by Franz Hartmann6/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Certainly, after embalming became standard, people were even less worried about waking in the grave because one could not survive the embalming process. Technological and medical advancements in the mid-20th century brought us machines that could detect even a very faint heartbeat – the surest sign of life – and, by that time, people were no longer as concerned with accidentally being pronounced dead. Today, it’s hard to imagine life before these advances when something as simple as detecting death was not even clear cut. DNA testing, cancer screening, vaccines, bionic limbs… I could go on forever about how the world of medicine has evolved. ![]() The medical field advances constantly and surprises us every day with new knowledge of the human body. Taphophobia, or the fear of being buried alive, may, in part, explain his final words. Why did George feel the need to state this on his death bed? These were his last known words, and must have been a thought of importance to Washington. ![]() Credit: Mount Holyoke College Art Museum / Wikipedia In his 19th century painting, John Meister imagines “George Washington on His Deathbed”. ![]()
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