Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-26
Yours sincerely.
PRESERVATION OF THE DEAD.


The last American Journal of Science
gives an account of the invention (by Sc
cato an Italian) of a new method Of preser-
wing the bodies Of the dead. The facts
are drawn from pamphlet, published at
Florence. Segato has visited Africa, for
the purpose of constructing map of its
northern regions. Among the sands of
the desert he discovered carbonized SUBJ
stance, which on close examination, proved
10 be animal matter. lie afterwards found
the entire body Of a man, about third
smaller than tho size Of life; it had been
carbon;zcd by the heat OF the sand, and
was partly Of the colour Of SCOT. 1t oc-
Cured to Segatc, that it might be possible
10 initiate this natural process, by means
fart and on his return to Italy, he began
The necessary experiments and appears 10
have been completely successful in con-
vcrting animal substance TO stone. His
method of operation is not given; but the
! following arc some Of the results.
| Entire animal bodies may be as readily
subjected to the process as small portions.
They become hard, and acquire properties
precisely similar to those of stone. The
skin, muscles, nerves, veins, and blood,
all undergo the same change ; nor need the
visccra BIZ removed. The colour, FORM,
and general appearance, remain un-
| changed. Offensive substances lose their
smell. Putrifcation is checked at once,
II the process be carried only toa given
degree, the joints arc perfectly flexible.
The bones of skeletons, which have un-
dcrgonc this operation, remain united by
their natural ligaments, which, though plla-
bic, arc solid and stony.-Moisture and in.
sects can do no injury to animals thus pre-
served. The hair does not fall of, but
retains natural appearance. The size
of the bod Y, after the process, is little less
| than in its natural state; but no alteration
takes place III the weight. The eyes, in
most of the animals that have been thus
embalmed, sparkle and lack only the power
of motion, to appear just like life.
As proofs of the efficacy of his invention,
Segato shows canary bird which was pre-
served ten years ago, and has not under
gone the slightest change; also, the eggs Of
the land-,urtle, water-snaks, toads, fishes,
snais and insects. 1t has likewise been
successfully tried on various portions of the
human body. The inventor possesses the
the cmaciated hand of lady who died
of consumption foot, retaining the
nails; the liver of an Incorporate man, as
hard and lustrous as ebony; an entire hu-
man brain, with all its CONCLUSIONS; girls
scalp, with the hair hanging in ringlets; and
the head Of an infant, partly destroyed and
discoloured by putrefaction, which had be-
gun It's work before the experiment was
made. But Segato's greatest curiosity is
table, inlaid with two hundred and fourteen
pieces of stone, for what appears suchJ Of
splendid and variegated hues, admirably
| polished, and so intensely hard, that file
can scarcely mako the slightest scratch
upon them. These stones which would be
mistaken 70. specimens of the most pre-
c;ous marbles, are different portions OF the
humao body--,he heart, liver, pancreas,
spleen, tongue, brain and arteries. Thus
multitude Of men and women, once alive,