Deliverance from the Cross — Page 57
ancient testimonies to this fact are quite explicit, nor are modern ones wanting, although there are but few parts of the world now where crucifixion is practised. "³ A fact of importance to be known, but which has not been sufficiently regarded, is that crucifixion was a very lingering punishment, and proved fatal not so much by loss of blood, since the wounds in the hands and feet did not lacerate any large vessel, and were nearly closed by the nails which produced them, as by the slow process of nervous irritation and exhaustion. This would of course be liable to variety, depending on differences of age, sex, constitution, and other circumstances; but for persons to live two or more days on the cross was a common occurrence, and there are even instances of some who, having been taken down in time and carefully treated, recovered and survived. In many cases death was partly induced by hunger and thirst, the vicissitudes of heat and cold, or the attacks of ravenous birds and beasts; and in others was designedly accelerated by burning, stoning, suffocation, breaking the bones, or piercing the vital organs. "4 'But the sudden death of a young and robust man, after a crucifixion of only six hours, was extraordinary, and to them unaccountable'. 5 3 Hanna, William, The Life of Christ, Vol. III, pp. 325-329 4 Stroud, William, On the Physical Cause of the Death of Christ, p. 55. 5 ibid, p. 133. 57