The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-20 00:00:00

THE PRESERVATION OF THE DEAR

The process patented be M. Falcony, a French
chemist, for embalming and preserving dead bodies,
_ ' though it has for several years been in use in some
of the principal cities on the continent, has but re-
cently been introduced into this country, and even
yet it is little known, if at all, beyond the limits of
the medical profession. It is probable, however,
that the highly successful result of an experiment
which took place yesterday at the Grosvenor School
of Medicine will not only establish its efficiency
among the medical authorities of London, but will
lead to its general use throughout the country. The
preparations of M. Falcony are of two kinds—one,
a fluid, intended to preserve the body from decay
for an indefinite period, and the other a powder,
designed to prevent decomposition for a consider-
able time, or to arrest active putrefaction if it have
already commenced. Both processes were subjected
to an examination yesterday, but it was to the
latter, as being of greater importance and utility
than the other, that attention was chiefly directed.
The subject of the experiment was the body of a
man who died of erysipelas on the 21st Sept. It
was taken to the school °lithe 24th in an advanced
stage of putrefaction, the head and face being
greatly swollen and discoloured. The trunk
was also much decayed, and it was pro-
nounced by Dr. Halford, the lecturer on
anatomy, to be totally unfit for dissection. On the
following day, the 25th, M. Falcony commenced his
operations, which were conducted in the presence
of several gentlemen of considerable professienal
eminence. He covered the bottom of the coffin
with his powder to the depth of about three inches
—on this the body was placed, and then covered
over with the powder mixed with sawdust as a
vehicle. In about 10 minutes not a trace of the
offensive smell remained, and when the body, was
uncovered yesterday, after a lapse of between three
and four weeks, it was found to be in the same con-
dition as when it was put into the hands of M. Fal-
cony. The powder had arrested the putrefaction and
none of those present were sensible of any unpleasant
odour. A hand, into which a small quantity of the
fluid intended for the permanent preservation of the
dead had been injected some weeks, was also pro-
duced. The skin still remained white, and no smell
was emitted, although the hand had been placed in
water and subjected to other conditions favourable
to decomposition. Dr. Halford congratulated M.
Falcony on the successful result of his experiments,
which proved that his invention was of the highest
value, and might be made extremely beneficial in a
sanitary_ point of view. M. Faleony delivered a
short address in French, in which he referred to the
cordial reception he had met with in England, and
expatiated upon the advantages which his discovery
was calculated to confer on mankind—first, by the
prevention of those innumerable contagious diseases
which result from the miasmata emitted from dead
bodies in certain cases ; secondly, by preserving the
remains of deceased persons for the inspection of
friends and relatives residing at a distance ; and,
thirdly, by subserving the purposes of justice in
cases of suspected poisoning. He did not pretend,
he said, to have brought this interesting department
of chymical science to perfection; what he had done
would be surpassed by others; but it faut frayer le
ehemin, and in the meantime we ought to avail
ourselves of the advantages which society might
derive from his studies.

There were present on the occasion Dr. Halford,
Dr. Harley, Dr. Richardson, Dr. O'Connor, Dr.
Thudieman, Dr. Luther Holden, Mr. Spencer
Wells, Mr. Pittard, officer of health for Chelsea ;
Count Arrowbene, M. Romani, Mr. Banting,
upholsterer, of St. James's-street, Mr. Lawton, &c.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TuEsDAT.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
9to 1 agst Blanche of Middlebie (take 10 to 1)
12 to 1 agst Leontes (taken)
14 to 1 agst Zouave (taken)
100 to 6 agst Ignoramus (taken)
20 to 1 agst Prioress (take)
100 to 4 agat The Brewer (taken)
100 to 4 agst Goelette (taken)
100 to 3 agst Physalis colt (taken)
100 to 3 agst Satinstone (taken)
40 to 1 agat Nelly (taken)
40 to 1 agst Tricolor (taken)
40 to I agts Lambourn (taken)
50 to 1 agst Barbarity (taken)

ROYAL CALEDONIAN HUNT AND KELSO
MEETING—TUESDAY.
. Sweepstakes of 3 sovs each, with 30 added. One mile
Adventurer I
Manchline
Leukothia it . 3
Caledonian Handicap. Two miles.

Ducrow
Prince of Denmark
Broadlands
Four ran.
- - The Kelso Plate. One mile.
-

Maggie
1
Katherine Logic 2
Ten ran.

MANCITF,STER M.ECHANICS'
12,-;3IIITUTE.

The Council of the Society of Arts having at the
recent examination awarded certificates of merit to
10 of the students in the Manchester Mechanics'
Institution, these honours were distributed by the
Earl of Carlisle, K.G., on Monday evening, in the
lecture-hall of the Institute. Mr. Oliver Heywood,
president of the institution, occupied the chair, and
there were present—Mr. Mackie, the mayor of
Manchester ; Mr. Harvey, mayor of Salford ; Sir
E. Armitage, Sir J. Watts, Mr. Fairbairn, C.E.,
F.R.S. ; Mr. Bailey, Professor Greenwood, Prin_
cipal of Owen's College ; Mr. L. Horner, the Rev.
W. Gaskell, Mr. J. Heron, the Rev. Canon Richson,
and many of the members and friends of the insti-
tution.
The CHAIRMAN said it was proper to enhance—
if the presence of such an assemblage as this could
enhance—the gratification and distinction of the
victors in the recent competition for testimonials of
proficiency. At the same time those who had been
unsuccessful were not to be overlooked. Many of
them were men of considerable talent and ability ;
they were present as generous witnesses of their
competitors' distinction, and they were also dili-
gently preparing themselves for the renewed con.
test of next year. They needed not to be told that
disappointment was the way through which most
men had attainedsuccess. (Applause.) What would
have been the position of this institution itself had
its conductors been unmindful of that encourage-
ment to perseverance ? (Cheers.) Referring next
to the merits of the educational experiments which
are in process all over the country, and to the' ob-
jection that superficial knowledge of a variety of
subjects was likely to be encouraged, leading young
students to pride theMselves upon having a mass of
general information while their solid acquirement
was really nothing to boast of, he said his own
experience led to the conclusion that it was rather
the emptiest than the fullest brain which was also
the vainest: (Hear.) The late examination, the
third under the auspices of the Society of Arts,
was the first in which members of this insti-
tution had competed. There were about
1,000 candidates for examination, of whom this
institution sent 36. Of that number eight failed to
pass the preliminary examination, and 10 out of the
remainder gained 19 certificates. The total number
of papers sent in by the 28 was 47, many of the suc-
cessful candidates having entered themselves for
examination in several subjects. The simpler and
more useful subjects were not passed by for the
higher branches of study; for the preliminary ex-
aminations were passed by the 28 with great credit.
There might, however, have been some aiming too
high ; for, while there was but one paper in
chemistry, one in practical mechanics, and one in
book-keeping, there were seven in geometry and
eight in algebra. It was reassuring, however to
perceive, on analysing the results, that those who
competed in a:plurality of subjects had been suc-
cessful in a fair. proportion. (Applause.) In con-
clusion, he expressed liisgratification at the circum-
stance that there was no longer the appearance of
secession from the institution on the part of young
Members as they became older, . and the directors
were seriotisly considering how to provide a more
social *and enduring intercourse among their intel-
ligent constituency. (Hear. hear.)
Mr. R. RUMNEI7, the- chairman of the class com-
.mittee, stated that the educational department of
the, institution' consisted of three divisions. First,
were the female dacla‘,-.6ses, which were commenced
many years. ago, fop- tide purpose of giving a sound
practical, education, to the daughters of adult mem-
bers of the artic;dn claSs: These classes were very
successful, P.:dd they now contained as many as could
be accoir
:modated. There were at present 200 girls
and Toung womerlreceiving daily instruction from
134-teachers, 10 of whom had received almost their
'entire education in the institution. (Hear, hear.)
Occasionally the directors had been disappointed in
the strangers whom they had engaged as teacheis,
but they had in no case been disappointed in thosel
whom they had taken from the elgoszas teacherS
of the younger members. The boys' department had
only been establiShed since the opening_of the new
huilclitig.TA person who sent his sons' to the itistltu-
tion had declared.that for a subscription of 17s. a
quarter, including-membership, they were receiving
quite as good, if not better education, than they
had got at a school for which he had paid £l2 per
annum. The directors had no intention of compe-
ting with other schools, but aimedsimply to supply
the want of a school in a middle position .between
those charging 6d. Or. ls. a-week, and those Whose
terms ranged from one to three guineas a-quarter.
There were 220 boys in attendance, and their
classes were conducted very efficient*. In the
evening classes an alteration had been made. The
plan of conducting them formerly was to teach the
Members individual,. Now the collective system
was adopted, and by a. proper subdivision of the
members of those classes, and a frequent use of the
black board, several advantages were gained. The
directors had great faith in the use of the chalk and
black board ; they believed there could be no effi-
cient teaching of large classes without very gene-
ral use of them, and in their selection of teachers
they had had special regard to ability in handling
these two instruments effectively. In Mr. Angell,
the principal of these classes, they had secured a
man who could use both chalk and black board with
remarkable results, and such as he (Mr. Rumney)
had never witnessed before. (Loud cheers from
the junior portion of the members.)
Tie Earl of CARLISLE was received with loud
cheers. He expressed much pleasure in having this
opportunity of paying his respects and homage to
old acquaintance. (Hear.) It was now—he feared
it must be confessed—above a quarter of a century
since he paid his last visit to the members of the
Mechanics' Institute of Manchester. He was de-
lighted to find how much more handsomely and
commodiously the members were now accommo-
dated, and he did not see why they should not all
enter into an engagement with each other to meet
'again at the end of another quarter of a century.
(Applause and laughter.) At the end of that time,
no doubt, it would be impossible for any room to
contain their greatly augmented numbers short of
the great Free Trade-hall. (Cheers.) He heard
the most favourable reports of the progress
of the institution and of the benefits it had
been privileged to confer upon the impor-
tant and populous district in the heart of which it
was established. A most pleasing thing it certainly
was to find that in a town like Manchester, the
foremost town in all the world for mechanical in-

vention and ingenuity—which invention and inge-
nuity could not be better represented_ than
_by the

eminent gentleman near him, Mr. W. Fairbairn—
(hear)--.--that in such a town, absorbed necessarily
to a great extent in material pursuits, there was
suitable provision made for the intellectual and
mental, and higher qualities of our nature. Among
the many institutions in the city having this
elevating mission in view, there was every reason
to believe that t`le Mechanics' Institute most cre-
ditably anti laudably performed its part. He learnt
that, besides the general arrangements of a me-
chanics' institute—its reading and news-room and
its library of books—they had female day classes,
which, at the period of their last report, contained
219 pupils, besides whichthere were persons giving
their attention to special branches of instruction—
such as music, dancing, drawing, modelling, French,
and even millinery—no doubt an important pursuit
in its way—(laughter)—a number of persons which,
with the day classes, raised the whole number to
441 ; that the evening male classes were attended
by no less than 813 students ; and that there were
classes for boys, which comprehended 166 pupils.
He believed these last classes had only been nine
months in operation ; they were now increasing,
and with a longer period of time before them they
would show how well they could earn their honours.
When ke heard the statement of Mr. Rumney he
he really felt that he had been labouring under
great disadvantages in his own education, never
6
having had the advantage of being taught by means
of the chalk and black board (laughter and cheers)
which lie learned was such an efficient instrument ;
and he doubted it not, for he saw its many recom-
mendations in the education of the rising genera-
tion of this day. He found there was attached to
the institution a Working Man's College, which he
trusted was destined to confer solid ad.vantageson
the great working communitN-of this town.
average
.
apprtehhaenndteed
remedy thati t
Refer-
ence had been made to the shortness of h
periods of membership.eto He
regret
was much more a
this. Men would not be driven to the fountains of
knowledge and of entertainment. The example of
Liverpool—he did not know whether he might say
also of Manchester—must be followed ; fountains
must be so placed and arranged that by their cool-
ness, freshness, and sparkle they might allure
passers by to their purifying streams. (Applause.)
The directors and members must study how to make
their institution attractive and amusing—he almost
shrunk from using that word—but he meant " cosy"
—(laughter)—as well as dignified and instructive.
If it was thus furnished with all the attractions.
which, consistently with its character and constitu-
tion, it was capable of, the directors would not then
compel but induce people to come to and maintain
their connection with it. This bore upon the ques-
tion of the propriety and advantage of keeping up
as much social intercourse as possible, and the
friends and members of all such institutions would

show great wisdom in promoting sueli a spirit of
good, fellowship and maintaining as much esprit Ile
corps as possible. He rejoiced that the institution

still continued to be managed by directors elected
by the meinbers_from their own body, for that wai
the way,, he was _confident, of giving satisfactioif
and inspiring interest. They had been told that of