Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-06-07
AsrRANor SECRET OF NArURr.-The

ASTRANGE SECRET OF NArURE.-Th
American Medical Gazette for May ha
the following curious accounto the pet
rifaction of human bodies:
In the old Cathedral Church of Bre
men is vault, the atmosphere of whiel
possesses the peculiar property Of pre-
serving from decay all bodies that ma,
be placed therein.
Visitors are shown eight human bo
dies, beside a number of cats, dogs
monkeys, birds, etc.. all of which, BY
mere exposure, in this atmosphere. have
become dried and free from all offensive
efiuvia, resembling in appearance coarse
parchment.
The body nearest the door is that o.
an English major, said to have lain here
one hundred and eighteen years.
The second that of German student
who lost his life in duel. The hard
dry flesh shows the sombre wounds or
his throat and arm. His body has been
here one hundred and seventy years.
Che third, that of a Swedish Coun-
tess, whose body has remained free
from the lot of common mortals for one
hundred and forty years.
The fourth, that of Swedish Gene
raj. who was killed in the Thirty Years
War and whose throat still exhibits the
mark of the wound Of which he died.
The fifth is that of his aid-de-camp,
who lost his life at the same time, by a
cannon ball striking him in the side
The destruction of the parts is plainly
visible.
The sixth body is that of workman.
fell from the steeple Of the church when
near its completion--four hundred years
ago--and broke his neck. Owing to
this accident the peculiar properties of
the vault became known; for the body
of the deceased workman was laid in
this vault for few days, and having
eyinced no signs of decomposition. the
of the fact induced the au-
thorities to permit it to remain and here
it has remained during all that time.
The seventh is the body of an English
lady, who died 80. years since of can
Ger on the lower jaw; the ravages of the
disease are still perceptible in the ulce
rated flesh.
The eighth is the body of working
man, who has lain here for sixty years.
In marble sarcophagus, standing in
the middle of the vault, are said to re-
pose the mortal remains of the Swedish
Chancellor, Van Englebrechten; but
they are not permitted to be exposed to
public view, on account of some still sur
Fiving relatives of the family.
Each of these bodies retain to great
legree the appearance peculiar to itself
n life. Thus the Swedish General was
. short round faced man, inclined to cor
oulency; his aid-de-camp was a slender.
veil proportioned man, in the prime of
ife. As in general appearance so also
n facial expression do these bodies diff
er; the parchment-like skin. though
lrawn tightly over the bones, still shows
of the manner in which the
muscles beneath once worked.
The only reasonable solution of the
'eculiarity of this result (for no other
'art of the church possesses it) that l
lave heard, is, that here all the plumb
RS work of the building was executed,
n melting and otherwise preparing the
materials for the roof. We can only
uppose, then, that the entire chamber
ecame SO surcharged with led. that it
as continued ever since TO give forth |
apors, which, forming an antiseptic
hemical compound of lead, have opera
ed upon the cadayera exposed to its in
uence.