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sisted of the skeleton and hair only. In this case the grave was situated in the higher ground
near the boundary of the cemetery, and was in the neighbourhood of trees, and this probably
accounts for the conditions found, since it appears that the influence of trees in the neighbourhood
of graves is to cause alternations in the conditions of moisture and dryness, producing rotting
of the coffin as well as rusting of the screws, and so allows more intimate relation between the
body and the soil. The presence of roots of trees would also tend to the draining away of the
contents of the grave.
(55.) Recognition of the result of burial in clay soil has led to the deep drainage
of the land, and in many cases all or as many as practicable of the earth graves are directly connected
with the drains, and burnt ballast or other loose material is placed at the bottom of the
grave, and even used to fill up the grave at one end in order to allow the products
of decomposition and of water passing into the graves to pass readily away. In those cases
where the system of drainage is thoroughly carried out and is freely provided with ventilation by
means of ventilation pipes and air inlets, the disadvantages of clay appear to be somewhat lessened
For the most part, however, the drain connection of every earth grave in a clay soil is
not effected. Common graves usually are connected, since in each cemetery they are dug more
or less to the same depth, generally just above the level of the drains, and in the same part of
the ground, so that there is little difficulty under these conditions in connecting the first grave
in a row to the adjacent drain, and then laying a pipe between one grave and another throughout
the row as each grave is dug. In the case of private graves, however, the depth chosen may be
at some distance above the level of the drains, and the spot chosen for the grave may be at some
distance from the nearest drain, and connection with a drain would involve a greater amount of
labour and time than can probably be given to it at the time.
(56.) Further, in graves in clay soil gases of decomposition appear to be retained for a long
period, so that when a grave is re-opened a second time, upon reaching the depth of the last interr ed
body, the effluvium may be so great as to interfere with the work of the labourers. In such cases
it may be necessary during the process of excavating to bore an opening through the intervening
soil to allow a freer exit to the gases, so that the work may be proceeded with with as little delay
as possible. In the case of graves in porous soils, such as gravel or sand, it appears that the reopening
of graves is not attended by this drawback.
(57.) At a cemetery which was visited during this inquiry, it was found that a condition had been
imposed at the date of its approval which indicates that an opinion similar to that expressed above as
regards the unsuitability of clay may have had influence at the time. The condition referred to is
that at this cemetery the coffin when placed in the grave is to be embedded in concrete. This is done
by first of all pouring in concrete in liquid form so as to cover the bottom of the grave, and then after
the coffin has been placed in position pouring in more concrete so as to surround the whole coffin. The
concrete is then allowed to set and the grave filled in. Action of the earth is thus entirely interfered
with, and in fact burial in the earth is practically converted into entombment. It is true that a like
condition of approval was met with at one other cemetery where the soil is not clay but river gravel,
and one probably well suited for earth burial. The imposition of the condition in this case would
not therefore be based on unsuitability of soil, but indicates rather an entertainment of the view that even
in a suitable soil burial in the coffins now used, and at the depths customary, so far interferes with the
object of earth burial, as to render the application of conditions of entombment desirable in the case
of all earth graves.
(58.) The disadvantages possessed by a clay soil are absent in the case of those of a gravelly
or sandy nature. In such soil, owing to greater permeability, a freer movement of air and of water is
able to take place naturally, and there is no need for draining graves or even the ground except
primarily with a view to lowering the level of the subsoil water where it is proposed to bury at depths
lower than this level. Further, the experience of those connected with cemeteries having soils of this
character tends to show that the changes which go on are more rapid than in the case of an impervious
soil, and that the reopening of a grave for a second interment, if not within a short period of the last
interment, or the digging of a new grave in proximity to another already occupied, is seldom if ever
accompanied by effluvium nuisance. The following experience has bearing on this subject of the
advantage of a pervious loose soil—The soil of a cemetery consists of fine, dry sand, which is for the most
part capped by a layer of clay varying from about 8 feet to 16 feet in depth. When the ground was laid
out the surface, it is stated, was swampy and the ground was systematically drained at a depth of 9 feet,
thus enabling graves 8 feet deep to be dug, or in other words allowed burial within the layer of clay. Some
years afterwards the ground was redrained at a depth of 20 feet, and graves could after this be excavated
into the sand. It is found in the reopening of graves, that those in the clay—the older graves in the
cemetery—are generally very offensive, and the soil is much stained, whereas this is not so in the case
of more recent graves in the sand. It was also stated that the coffins appear to disintegrate in the
latter to an extent which does not take place in the clay. In the case of the grave of a child 6 feet
deep in a cemetery with sandy soil, which was reopened after four years for a second interment,
nothing appeared to be left but the skeleton.
(59.) The above account of what takes place after burial of the human body by the existing methods
is sufficient—so far as it is possible to form any conclusion without actual examination of graves
definitely for this purpose—to show that the decay of the body is to a large extent interfered with by
the conditions of its burial. To place the body under the most favourable possible conditions, it is
essential—
(i.) That it be not buried at a considerable depth. This requirement would carry with
it another requirement, namely, that only one body be buried in the same grave.
(ii.) That only coffins of readily destructible material be used.
(iii.) That the soil used be of a suitable character.
(60.) With these conditions it appears possible that after a certain period the body will have
undergone decay to an extent that the ground may be regarded as being no longer occupied by