Washington telegraph., 1855-05-30
petrifioatlon of Human Bodies.

The American Medical Gazette ior May eon.
tains the following curious account ol the pcidh.
cation Of human holies
In the old Cathedral Church of Bremen IS a
vault, the atmosphere OF which possesses the pc.
euliar property OF preserving from decay all bo.
dies that may be placed therein.
Visitors are shown eight human bodies, besides
number OF cats, dogs, monkeys binds, &c, all Of
which, BY mere exposure 10 this atmosphere,
have become dried aud Tree from all offensive el.
Understanding IN appearance, coarse pafrh.
ment
The body nearest the door is that OF an English
MAJOR, said 10 have lain hete Is years
The second that oi a German student who lost
his life in a duel, The hard, dry flesh sill shaws
the sabre wounds on his throat and AIMS Ills
body has been here 10 yean.
The third Is that of Swedish Countess. whose
body has remained lfec from the lot Of common
moTials for li9 years.
The fourth thai of swedish General, who was
killed in the Thirty Yaarz' t'af,n and whose
throat still exhibits the mark Of the wound Of
which be died
The 6lih Is that Of bis aile-de-eamn. who lost
his life a, the same time BY cannon ball sinking
him IN the side The destruction of the parts Is
plainly visible.
The sixth holy Is that ef workman Wbo lell
from the s.eeple Of The church when near is com.
pleiion, four hundred years ago and bnake his
neck. Owing 10 this aeeiiaHt, the peculiar pro.
pefiies Of this vault became knawn, ioI the body
OF the deceased workman was laid ia tins yauIi
ior few days and having eAineei no sigus OF
decomposition. the sinsaanty Of the fact induced
the authorities 10 pcmit il 10 remain and here It
has remained during all that time.
The seventh Is the body ni an English laly, /
he al
sr iaw the rasages Of the dsease still petrenii.
bic in the liberated flesh.
The eighth Is ihe body Of working man, who |
has lain here ior 90 Year,,
In a marble faTcophagus, standing ia the mid I
die Of the vault are said 10 rcpase the mortal IT,
mains Of a Swedish Chancellor Van Englcbrrch.
ten bu, they arc not permitted 10 be exposed 10
public view, on account Of some still Surviving
relatives OF the iamily.
Each Of these bodies retains 10 great degree
the appearance peculiar 10 itself in lie. Thus
the Swedish General was a short round laced man,
inclined 10 eorpalcney, his aidc-de.camp was a
slender, well pfopoHohed man, in the prime Of
life A, in general appearance, 80 also in facial
expression 10 these bodies differ ihe parchment.
Ike skin, though drawn tightly oveI the bones,
tiill shows something Of the manner 10 which the
muscels beneath once moved.
The only reasonable solution Of The pccnliAniy
Of this result, TOR no other par, Of the Church
possesses ~ that ! have heard, H. that here all
,hs plumbers work Of the building was executed,
ln melting and otherwise preparing the materials
for the roof We can only suppose iken, that the
eniife chamber becamc - sufrhafgcd with lead.
that II has continued ever since TO give forth va
rors which, forming an antisop,ie chemical CON.
pound OF lead have operated upon the eadayen
exposed to It's influence
N. l.. CAMPBELL, NJ D., Surgeon
ofihe Steamship Warrington.
Nrw YoRK, April 20, 1850