Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-18

Rome letter to the London Times
Through the courtesy OF Professor Scalzi,
medicalinspector of the hospital OF Santo Spirito.
had the opportunity of being present at tho
final examination OF the body of a young man
upon which DR.. Pietro Toninetii. of Verona. had
experimental by the use of liquid preparation
he has discovered for the preservation of dead
bodies. whether of men or animals aud the visible
result was most surprising. The subject died on
the 18th OF last month-that is, nearly six weeks
agO-Of disease of the lungs, and the liquid was
injected thirty-six hours after death. On
the Sth inst. e., twenty-siX days later-the
ordinary wooden coffin was opened In the pres
ence of Professor ScalZi, representing on the
occasion the minister of public instruction; Dr.
POstempski, demonstration of clinical surgery in
the Roman university; DIR. Pretti, army eur
geon. and others. and the body was found in a
perfect state Of preservation and fexibility and
presenting the appearance Of one that had only
been dead few hours. The Uranium thoraX
aud abdomen were then opened, and the BRAIN
lungs, heart and viscera. all Of which were
found to be in perfectly well preserved and
healthy state, were removed These operations
completed and the process verbal signed
set apart for continued test of time
which expired on Wednesday. On enter
ing the operating room l was unable to detect
any offensive Odor. The arms and legs and
other parts felt were soft and supple. and. ex-
cept the absence of rigidity, presented the nor
NAL condition of recent death. Previous to the
body being cOffined for interment one leg and
one arm were taken off for further preservation
and examination, missions were made and pieces
removed for microscopic examination, and every
where the muscles and tendOns presented their
norma! cOlOrs and were perfectly fresh and sweet
The brain, lungs and liver, which were on a
table apart. had at first sight q very unprOm-
isng appearance. They were completely
covered with coating Of green mould. and
might have been mistaken for Jumps of old
bronze. but on being cut across they were
found to be in perfect state of preservation
The condition Of the brain was most remark
ever. The white end gray substances en.: all
the cOnvOlutiOns were as distinct Do Il 1t had
only Just been removed from the Uranium. In
addition to the cOmmissie: named by the min
lister of public obstruction with reference
to the application of DR.. TOninettis dis
cOvery. in the anatomical schools of the
kingdom and in other ways connected
with the medical aud chirurgical sciences the
ministers OF the army and navy have appointed
others to consider what use can be made of it in
connection with their commissariat deEaIt-
lnents. Experiments that have been made on
the bodies Of animals with equal success tend to
prove that the discovery may be of great utility
for alimentary purposes, and especially in the
preservation in perfectly fresh state of car
cases Of meat for expectation to long distances
AS regards the liquid DR.. TOninetti declines for
the present to state what materials it is COM
posed of. He asserts. however, that it is per
fectly fnnOcuous and its presence imperceptble
and in proof of its harmlessncss drank, am
told, tumbler Of it when in Rome last month
before proceeding to inject the body"