Omaha daily bee., 1882-11-21
COR p sKs PREsE svEn.
a Discovery by Professor Scalsl.
Medical Inspector at Rome.
Rome Letter to London Times.

@AHNN0AN W ItA9haNN StAlat
Medical Inspector ut Rome.
Rome Letter to London Times.
Through the courtesy Of Pr5fesso.
Scalzl, medical inspector of SAINT,
Spirito, | had the opportunity of be
ing present at the final examination o.
the body of q young man upon which
DR.. Pietro Toninesti, of Verona, has
experimental by the use of a liquid
preparation he has discovered for the
preservation of dead bodies, whether
of men or animate, and the visible 70.
suit was most surprising, The subject
died on the 10Th Of last month-that
lie, nearly six weeks ago-of ciIesse
of the lungs, and the liquid was in
iected thirty.s six hours after death. %
tho 0.h inst i. o., Nenty-six days
later the ordinary wooden ootin was
opened i'll the presence of Professor
Scalzi, representing on the occasion
the minister of public instruction;
DIR. P~ostempski, demonstrators of elm.
ical surgery in 1.-The Roman university;
DR., Hretti, army surgeon, and others,
and the body vas found in a perfect
state of preservation and lexibility
and presenting the appearance of one
that had only been dead a few hours.
Tho Uranium, thorax and abdomen
were then opened, and the brain, lungs
heart and viscera, all Of which were
found to be in a perfectly we'll pre-.
served and healthy state, when re.
moved. The operations completed
and the process verbal signed, tho body,
brains and intestines were set
apart for a continued test of time
which expired on Wednesday. On
entering the operating room l was
unable to detect any offensive odor.
The arms and legs and other parts l
felt we're soft and supple, and except
the absence of rigidity, presented the
normal condition of recent death.
Previous to tho body being coHined
for interment, one leg and one arm
were taken off for further preserva.
ton and examination, incisions were
made and pieces we're removed for
microscopic examination, and every
where the muscles and tendons pre-
scented their normal colors and we're
perfectly fresh and sweet. The brain,
lungs and liver, which were on a
table apart, had at first sight
a very unpromising appear.
ance. They were completely
covered with a coating o fgreen mould,
aud might have been mistaken for
lumps o. old bronze, but on being cut
across they were found to be in a per-
feet state of preservation. The con-
dition of the brain was most remark
able. 1t had undergone no alteration
whatever. The white and gray sub.
stances and all the convolutions were
as distinct as if it had only just been
removed from the Uranium. In addi-
ton to the commission named by the
minister of public instruction with
reference to the application of DR..
Tontnetti's discovery, in the anatom-
ical schools of the kingdom and in
other ways connected with the med
ical and chirurgical sciences, the min
listers of the army and navy have APP.
pointed others to consider what use can
be made of it in connection with their
commissariat departments. Expert
ments that have been made on the
bodies of animals with equal success
tend to prove that the discovery may
be of great utility for elementary pur.
poses, and especially in the preserva.
ton in a perfectly fresh state of car.
casses of meat for expectation to long
distances. As regards the liquid Dr..
Toninetti declines for the present to
state of what materials 1t is composed
of. he states, however, that it is
perfectly ipnocuous and Its presence
imperceptible, and in proof OF its
harmleasness drank, I am told, a
tumbler of it when in Rome last
month before proceeding to inject the
body"