The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-16
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
A New Process for Preserving Indefinitel,
the Human Body After Death.

New Process for Preserving Indefinitely
the Human Body After Death.
From the New York Post.l
new method for preserving the hui
man body after death has lately been
employed in this city with astonishing
results. 1t had previously been tried in
San Francisco and st. Louis, but only
slight degree of publicity was given to
the experiments. In this city the matter
has purposely been kept from the press
until arrangements for the general use
of the process were perfected. These
details having been adjusted, the in
ventor of the method and his agent are
now willing that the fullest information
on the subject should be given to the
public.
The author of this discovery is DIR.
Samuel Rodgers, lately of San Fran
cisco. In conversation with a repre-
sentative of the EveninQ Post, he said
that he had been practicing physician
for eighteen years, and during the last
eleven years had given much attention
to the study of chemistry. About two
years ago he made a number of expert
ments with view to the preservation
of meats by chemical treatment, but
his success was only partial. He COM
pounded liquid which would keep meat
fresh for an indefinite period, but it i'm
parted disagreeable flavor, and was,
therefore, of no value for practical pur-
poses. About this time there was much
discussion in the newspapers and else
where on the subject of cremation, in
consequence of the burning of the body
&c 4La IL Da1,,1 ,nh
formed with much ceremony in Penn
sylvania. The chief argument of the
advocates of cremation was the fact that
it obviated all the danger to health and
the shock to sentiment which were
caused by the decomposition of the
dead. 1t occurred to DR.. Rodgers that
he had within his grasp the means of ac-
complishing all that could be gained
by cremation in sanitary point OF
view, and, at the same time, of preserv-
ing the body after death without injury
TO form or feature. He began expert
ments for this object, and the result was
the perfection of the discovery.
DR.. Rodgers prepared chemical So
luton which has been named "allek-
ton" from Greek word meaning "ever-
lasting" The formula for its prepar-
alton is a secret. It is light yellow
liquid, with peculiar smoky odor re-
sembling the smell of tar. In ordinary
cases, where it is desired to preserve the
body but for three or four days, it is only
necessary, DR.. Rodgers says, to brush
it over with the liquid, and decompo-
sition is entirely prevented in the hot
test weather. At the same time the
body is given wonderfully natural APP
pearance. When the fatal disease was
of nature to hasten decomposition, OF
it is desired to preserve the body for q
long period, there is some further treat
ment. The umbilicus is slightly pune
tured with needle, and, with common
hand-syringe, some Of the liquid is in.
jected into the thoracic and abdominal
cavities. No incision is made, and there
is no injection into the veins or arteries
The whole of this simple process takes
up but twenty or thirty minutes. 1t re
quires, on the average, about gallon O.
the liquid, which can be supplied tt
undertakers at cost of only s..