The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-28
EMBALMING.
Tarchiani and BIIIps Method


A correspondent of London paper says:-
The experiments which have recently been
made in Italy for the purpose of discovering
a method by which animal substances might
be embalmed or attain to a stony eonsistence
by which they might be preserved from natu-
raj decay for an indefinite period, have not
been confined to Professor Abbate, in South
ern Italy; for Messrs. Tarchiana q Bill, of
Florence, have also succeeded in imparting q
stony consistence to portions of the human
viscera, such, for example, as the heart,
lungs, liver, and kidneys. These objects
have very much the appearance as well as
the hardness of the well-known preparations
of Segato, which are to be seen at the Hospi-
tai OF Santa Maria Nuova, in Florence.
The method by which this result was
ottained it will be remembered, was lost to
science at the death of the discoverer,
as Segato never divulged his secret
during his lifetime. Animals such as cats,
dogs, and birds, have also been very we'll
preserved by the present process of Tarchiani,
particularly the latter, the feathers not being
IN the least manner apparently injured by the
process of petrifcation, to which they had
been submitted; these several preparations
we have been assured by the discoverers have
been embalmed without any of the contained
viscera being removed, or touched; the ami
NAL, or portion of the same, is placed in a
which are also stated to be very moderate in
price and simple in their application; the
same bath, we are also informed, will serve
to prepare many objects, and can be kept for
long period without deteriorating or losing
any of its original strength. Tarchiani
having so far succeeded in petrifying animal
substances, which process might be applied
to the preservation of anatomical prepara-
tions as well as to objects of natural history,
has endeavored to apply his system to the
preservation of meat and poultry, with a view
to its application in South America. Several
pounds of raw beef were placed in box con-
tanning the antiseptic agent in the month of
August, 1869; the box was then closed, and
seals placed upon it in the presence of several
witnesses; these same parties were present al
the opening of the box in the month OF
February, 1870 (the seals having been ex
amined to ascertain that they had not been
tampered with; the meat was then found tc
be perfectly free from smell, and was con
sidered to be sound; it was then roasted
and eaten by many persons present, and was
considered to have acquired taste as if il
had been placed in a strong solution of salt
although not in any manner presenting the
appearance that beef acquires when it hal
remained for some time in pickle: the colo
was natural, and the beef entirely free from
any odor; the fat had been particularly wei
preserved; in fact, the beef was considered tC
be far superior to any meat that might have
been placed for the same period (six months
in brine. This first experiment, howeve
satisfactory it may have appeared to be, as
first essay, was not considered sutfi
ciently conclusive by the members Of
the committee appointed to examine
into the merits of the process
to warrant any report being drawn up TO
presentation to the Italian Government; con
sequently a second trial was demanded, an
on the 20th of February, 1870, twenty t
thirty pounds of raw meat were placed in
box, which was then closed, and sealed b
the members of the committee in the pre-
sence of many witnesses; the box was the
deposited in safe keeping, to be opened o
the goth of May, 1870, in the presence OF tn
parties who have affixed their seals, when
careful examination of the contents will tai
place, and correct report will be made
the Italian Government as to the 'vaiue
Messrs. Tarchiani and Bills process.