In 1822, Dr Adolf Gutsmuth set out to conquer his fear of being buried alive by consigning himself to the grave in a ‘safety coffin’ that he had designed himself.

Around 1790, the Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick had the first safety coffin built which included a window to allow light in and a tube to provide a fresh supply of air. The lid of the coffin was then locked and two keys were fitted into a special pocket sewn into his burial shroud: one for the coffin itself and one for the tomb.

In Germany, over thirty designs were patented, the best of which being Dr. Johann Taberger’s which included a system of ropes that attached hands, feet and head to an above-ground bell. Unfortunately, Taberger neglected to consider that as a corpse decomposes it bloats and swells – just enough movement to trigger the bell to ring.

Or maybe it was just a vampire.

Then there was Dr. Timothy Smith, who had his body interred in a crypt with his face positioned beneath a cement tube that concluded with a plate glass to allow him to gaze upward; visitors to the grave reported that, yep, they could see his head. Decomposing. (So at least he was dead, though I suppose it is still possible he was a liche or a zombie…hm. Wonder if they considered that possibility.)

Via The Chirurgeon’s Apprentice for additional history and photos.