The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-08-12
4 Remarkable Discovery.

ARREST OF DECAY IN DEAD AND LIfiht AAfA@S'
From the New York Commercial Advertiser.l
The simultaneous experiments of scientific men IN
various countries for the discovery of the best means
for emhaming human bodies and arresting the pro-
Rress of decay have already produced favorable re-
sults that promise still more satisfactory discoveries IN
the future The subject seems to have been trst
brought prominently before the attention OF the mod
ern world during evil war, under the instincts Of
natural affection for the preservation OF the bodies oil
our soldiers pending their transportation to polnts
where relatives and friends could bestow upon them
the last sad Offices of duty and affection. In most cases
only immediate or temporary results were looked for
or expected process that would arrest decomposi-
ton for few weeks months Was all that vas at
tempted. revival of the old Egyptian system that
would preserve bodies for centuries was scarcely
thought Of. Bat the results attained stimulated sci
entifc research and there is now probability that
means may be discovered for the preservation of hu
man bodies from decay that will prove effective
simple and durable than the old Egyptian process Of
embalmsng.
Experiments have been made Ii this city recently,
which indicate vast improvement upon the systemt
adopted during the 1t has been found possible
to preserve bodies during period Of several months
without exclusion from the air, and to render them
perfectly nofensiTe and harmless This art has been
brought to great perfection in Italy. letter from
Florence published in the Nation, gives very inter
eating CT the systeu1 discovered by Prof
Narini. i 60 " sS
This system extends to the restoration Of mumr1
fed bodies or portions of them their original ap
pearence and color and to arrest the progress Of de-
cay The foot Of an Egyptian mummy is exhibited,
oue.half CT which retains It's mummiaed condition,
while the other half seems to have been restored to ts
original color, form, fexibility and freshness The
limbs of the numnies shown With Rtestations from
Or Neaten, the famous French surgeon and other
high surgical authorities to the effect that the reseo.
ration all the conditions attending fresh human
subject have been fully STAINED This is scarcely less
TouderflI than the original preservation of these mum
mics for score of centuries. The Egyptian enlbalm
ers could ne7cs Rave anticipated that it was reserved
for generation OF to restore to their pris
tine freshness and fexiby the subjects Of their art
go as to present to generations and of
ell the appearances Of the living organisation. r.
The completeness of Professor Msrinis discovery Is
attesed By the fact that be has preserved for year
the body OF Professor Martini of Caar of which four
months after death photograph Was taken, which
seemed to his friends perfect portrait he appeared
in bis life. Other instances are given, showing that
the tissues and organisation be made to retain for
An indefinite period all the freshness Of body newly
deceased. .' =. -
These rcsuts a7e obtained By the immersion Of the
body in vegetable liquid, the composition of which
Professor Mariai will only disclose under certain
ditions. Buthese discoveries of the Of arrest
Ing the decay of animal matter promise to be attended
with the beneficial results to the living. 1t is
found that cancer uceroas ard gangrenous Affections
and other sores and Bouatie, may be ccarized and
healed by immersion in the liquid. 1t is also found
that the liquid is useful for the preservation Of animal
food Petrifactioas of portions of the human body and
inferior animals also made, under the most curious
conditions
Professor Marini is still engaged in his discoveries
which be is far .oa regarding perfect. tie is max
Ing new experiments It is in their application to the
living organisation, with view of arrestng disease,
that he looks for the results that promise the largest
benefits TO humanity. p. 49,.