A district court, or the judge thereof in vacation, shall have the power to order the exhumation of the body of a deceased person, and the removal of the same or any portion thereof for physical or chemical examination or analysis for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of death. Such order may be made on the application of the county or district attorney, with such notice to the next of kin of the deceased person whose names and addresses are known to said county or district attorney and to any person having legal charge of said body, as the court may direct. The cost of such exhumation and examination or analysis shall be allowed and paid by the board of county commissioners from the county general fund.