For all of those living, death is inevitable. Except now, through the evolution of technology and the complexity of its definition, death has endless interpretations. In the late 18th century, death was an act of everyday life. After five centuries, death has multiple meanings and there are various ways which people approach after-death practices. The death rituals in American have transformed from taking place in the homes of the deceased, then as science developed cremation and funeral homes took the place, and finally trusting future medical technology cryonics provides those facing death an opportunity for eternal life. Before hospitals and specially trained physicians, there was midwives and traveling doctors. Doctors were scarce and
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Death beds were now located in hospitals and funeral homes took the place of family parlors and backyards. Doctors and scientist were able to combat epidemics and the leading cause of death became degenerative diseases (Laderman 3). Due to the Civil War in the 1860’s, there were many soldiers whose bodies returned home for the burial; embalming became popular because their bodies needed to be preserved during transportation (Laderman 7). Funeral homes were legitimized by high demand for their services and religion. Neighborhoods and funeral directors established graveyards. However, along with the creation of graveyards came grave robbers (Washington 121). Those seeking cadavers disturbed the bodies that were peacefully laid to rest following funerals. Harriet Washington, author of Medical Apartheid, documents that medical students and their advisors were desperate to obtain dead bodies for research (117). Research was on the brink and medical aspirers started experimenting on those patients in hospitals. People during this time did not know whom to trust with their body. Hospitals were a death sentence and funeral homes were subject to theft (Laderman 129). Although graveyards did not guarantee eternal peace after death for some, this became the standardized thing to do with a dead body of a loved
Death beds were now located in hospitals and funeral homes took the place of family parlors and backyards. Doctors and scientist were able to combat epidemics and the leading cause of death became degenerative diseases (Laderman 3). Due to the Civil War in the 1860’s, there were many soldiers whose bodies returned home for the burial; embalming became popular because their bodies needed to be preserved during transportation (Laderman 7). Funeral homes were legitimized by high demand for their services and religion. Neighborhoods and funeral directors established graveyards. However, along with the creation of graveyards came grave robbers (Washington 121). Those seeking cadavers disturbed the bodies that were peacefully laid to rest following funerals. Harriet Washington, author of Medical Apartheid, documents that medical students and their advisors were desperate to obtain dead bodies for research (117). Research was on the brink and medical aspirers started experimenting on those patients in hospitals. People during this time did not know whom to trust with their body. Hospitals were a death sentence and funeral homes were subject to theft (Laderman 129). Although graveyards did not guarantee eternal peace after death for some, this became the standardized thing to do with a dead body of a loved