The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-14
From the Commercial Advertiser.
Arrest of Decay In Dead and LiVini
Matter.


Tho simultaneous experiments of scien
tifc men in various countries for the diS
covery of the best means for embalmlng nu
man bodies and arresting the progress o
decay have already produced favorable re
suits that promise still more satisfactory
discoveries in the future. The subJec
seems to have been first brought proml
nently before the attention of the modern
world during our civil war under the In
stincts of natural affection for the preser
yation of the bodies of our soldiers pending
their transportation to points where rela
tiyes and friends could bestow upon then
the last sad Offices of duty and affection
In most cases only immediate or temporary
results were looked for or expected. Apro
cess that would arrest decomposition for few
weeks or months was all that was attempted
A revival of the old Egyptian system thai
would preserve bodies for centuries wat
scarcely thought of. But theresults attained
stimulated scientific research, and there II
now o probability that means may be dis
covered for the preservation OF human
bodies from decay that will prove more eff
fective, simple, and durable than the ole
Egyptian process Of embalming.
Experiments have been made in this city
recently which indicate vast improvement
upon the systems adopted during the war
1t has been found possible to preserve
bodies during n period of several months
without exclusion from the air, and to rem
der them perfectly inotfensive and harm
less. This art has been brought TO great
perfection in Italy. Aletter from Florence
published in The Nation, gives very inte-
resting account of the new syste m disco
vered by Professor Marini.
This system extends to the restoration OF
mummifed bodies, or portions of them, tc
their original appearance and color, and to
the arrest Of the progress of decay. The
foot of an Egyptian mummy is exhibited:
one-half of which retains its mummltied
condition, while the other half seems to
have been restored to its original color,
form, fexibility, and freshness. The limbs
of mummes are shown with attestations
from DR.. Nelaton, the famous French sur
geon, and other high surgical authorities,
to the effect that the restoration to all the
conditions attending fresh human subject
have been fully attained. This is scarcely
less wonderful than the original preserva-
ton of these mummies for score Of CEN
turtles. The Egyptian embalmers could
never have anticipated that 1t was reserved
for new generation Of men to restore to
their pristine freshness and tlexibility the
subjects of their art, so as to present 10 new
generations and races Of men all the ap-
pearances of the living organization.
The completeness of Professor Marini's
discovery is attested by the fact that he has
ha nod, IF
sor Martini, of Cagliari, Of which, four
months after death, a photograph was taken,
which seemed to his friends perfect por-
trait as he appeared in life. Other in
stances are given, showing that the tissues
and organization can be made to retain for
IN indefinite period all the freshness OF q
body newly deceased.
These results are attained by the INNER
sion of the body in vegetable liquid, the
composition of which Professor Marini will
only disclose under certain conditions. But
these discoveries upon the means Of arrest
ing the decay Of animal matter promise to
be attended with the most beneficial results
to the living. 1t is found that cancer, Ill
cerous, and gangrenous Affections, and other
sores and wounds, may be cicatrized and
healed by immersion in the liquid. 1t Is
also found that this liquid is useful for the
preservation of animal food. Petrifactions
of portions of the human body and inferior
animals are also made under the most Gu
rious conditions.
Professor Marini is still engaged in his
discoveries, which he is far from regarding
as being perfect. He is making new expert
ments, 1t is in their application to the
living organization with view of arrest
ing disease that he looks for the results
that promise the largest benefits to hu-
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