The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-23
Gorpscs prescrxo.,

through the courtesy Of Professor
o.si%l' medical inspector Of the Hospital
OF SantQ Spirito,' says the Rome CORE.
Spondent OF the London Times. u had the
opportunity Of being present at the final
examination OF the body Of voune man
upon which DR.. PictTo Toninctti. of We
roma, had experimental by the use OF a
liquid preparation he has discovered for
the preservation Of dead bodies, whether
ol men or animals, and the visible result
was most surprising. The subject died on
the Eth OF last month-thaf is.
nearly six weeks ago-of disease
OF the lungs, and the liquid was
injected thirty-SiX hours after death.
On the Sth Instant. g.. twcnty-SiN davS
lator-thc ordinary wooden coffin was
opened in the presence Of Professor Scalzi.
representing on the occasion the Minister
OF Public instruction; DR.. PoStempski.
demou>trator OF clinical surgery in The Ro-
man University; DIR. Prctti. army surgeon.
and others; and the body was found in a
perfect state oi preservation and feXibiitv,
and presenting the appearance OF one that
had only been dead q few hours. The
Uranium, thoraX. and abdomen were then
opened. and the brain, lungs, heart. and
NiSccra, all Of which were found to be- i'm
a perfectly wcll-prcSeryed and HEALTHY
state. were removed. These opera
tion> completed and the process re3JQl
signed. the body. brain. and intc>tinc> were
set apart for continued test OF time. which
expired on "Wednesday. ON entering the
opcrating-roOm | was unable to detect any
offensive odOr. The arms and lcgs and
other parts felt were soft and supple. and
~ Il. ,f
the normal condition of recent death.
Previous to the body being cotiincd for in
tcrment one leg and one arm were taken OF
for further preservation and examination,
mcisionS were made and pieces removed
Tor microscopic examination, and every
where the muscles and tcndonS presented
their normal coloIS and were perfectly fresh
and sweet. The brains, lungs, and liver,
which were on a table apart. had at first
sight ay very unprOmiSing appearance. They
were completely covered with coating "
green mould. and might have been mis-
taken for Jumps OF old bronze, but on
being cut across they were found TO be in
perfect state OF preservation. The con-
ditiOn OF the brain was most remarkable.
1t had undergone no alteration whatever.
The White and gray substances and all the
t0nN OlNllOls were - ul>tlUtt ~ II u iidt
only lust been removed from the cranium.
I'm addition 10 the commission named by
the Minister Of Public instruction with
reference TO the application OF DR.. Toni
nctti', discovery in the anatomical schools
Of the kingdom and in other ways con-
nected with the medical and chirurgical
sciences. the Ministers OF the Army and
Navy have appointed others t. consider
what Use can be made OF ii in connection
with their c0mmissariat departments. EX-
Deriments that have been made on the
bodies @. animals with equal success tend
10 prove that the discovery may be OF great
utility for alimcntary purposes, and eNpe-
cially i'm the preservation in perfectly
fresh state of carcaScS OF meat iOr eXporta-
ton TO long distances. As regards the
liquid Dr. Toninetti declines for the pres
ent 10 state what materials it is composed
Of. lie asserts, however, that ii l. per-
fectlv innocuOus and it, presence imper-
ceptiblc. and i'm proof OF IT, harmle>>nc>>
drank. am told, tumblcr of u. when in
Rome last month before proceeding to III
iect the body.