Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-26
A Remarkable DiScOyeFy-Ar
rest of Decay in Dead and
Living EfaffqP.

"a
Living Matter.
From thseew York Commere al AdveTtIser.l
! The simultaneous experiments of sci
: entific men in various countries for th'
discovery of the best means for embalm
! ing human bodies and arresting the pro
gress of decay, have already produced
favorable results that promise still more
satisfactory discoveries in the future
: The subject seems to have been first
brought prominently before the attention
of the modern world during our civil
war, under the instincts of natural affec-
ton for the preservation Of the bodies
of our soldiers pending their transporta-
ton to points where relatives and friends
could bestow upon them the last sad Of
fees of duty and affection In most
cases only immediate or temporary re-
suits were looked for or expected. A
process that would arrest decomposition
for few weeks or months was all that
was attempted A revival of the old
| Egyptian system that would preserve
bodies for centuries was scarcely thought
of. But the results attained stimulated
scientific research, and there is now a
probability that means may be discover
ed for the preservation Of human bodies
from decay that will prove more effect
i've, simple and durable than the old
Egyptian process of embalming.
Experiments have been made in this
city recently, which indicate a vast inn
provement upon the systems adopted
during the war. 1t has been found pos
sible to preserve bodies during period
of several months, without exclusion
from the air, and to render them per-
fectly inoffensive and harmless. This
art has been brought to great perfection
in Italy. 4 letter from Florence, pub !
lished in the Nation, gives a very inter
esting account of the new system dis
covered by Prof. Marini.
This system extends to the restora- /
ton of mummifed bodies, or portions of |
them, to their original appearance and /
color and to arrest the progress of de-
cay. The foot of an Egyptian mummy
is exhibited, one-half of which retains /
its mummifed condition, while the other
lAdi1 cCtlilD " I'D 70 Dttu ItclOItu 10 It's
original color, form, fexibility and fresh
ness. The limbs of the mummies are
shown with attestations from DIR. Nela-
ton, the famous French surgeon, and
other high surgical authorities, to the
effect that the restoration to all the con-
ditions attending fresh human subject
have been fully attained. This is scarce
ly less wonderful than the original pres
grvatiOn of these mummies for a score
Of centuries. The Egyptian embalmers
could never have anticipated that it was
reserved for a new generation of men to
restore to their pristine freshness and
lexibility the subjects of their art so as
o present to new generations and races
If men all the appearances of the living !
The completeness of Professor Ma
ini's discovery is attested by the fact
hat he has preserved for year the
,ody of Professor Martin, of Caliari, of I
which four months after death a photo !
,raph was taken, which seemed to his !
riends perfect portrait as he appeared a
n life. Other instances are given, show I
NC that the tissues and organization can t
e made to retain for an indefinite pc
iod all the freshness of a body newly
eceased. 5
These results are obtained by the i'm g
lersion of the body in a vegetable I
quid, the composition of which Pro |
essOr Marini will only disclose under 1
ertain conditions. But these discover c
IS of the means of arresting the decay 0
f animal matter promise to be attended g
it'll the most beneficial results to the G
wing. 1t is found that cancer, ulcerous Il
I'd gangrenous Affections, and other i
,res and wounds, may be cicatrised and q
called by immersion in the liquid. 1t is y
so found that the liquid is useful for II
lie preservation of animal food Petri- u
ctions or portions of the human body
ID inferior animals are also made, un- as
or the most curious conditions Il,
Professor Marini is still engaged in Ia
S discoveries, which he is far from re- 10
riding as perfect. He is making new e eG
:periments. 1t is in their application sr
the living organization, with a view te
arresting disease, that he looks for IT.
c results that promise the largest bene- Vi
s to humanity. 20