Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-10
sEpULcHRAL SURROUNDINGS.
Ho,c Human Skeletons fire Prepared end
Sold


Sold.
eff yez don't moind stayin' alone wild
thin human craturs' bones just go up to
the third flure and wait until the docthur
comes in, said brawny Irish girl as she
directed a reporter of the Philadelphia
Times how to proceed up to the little room
occupied by DR.. Wehnrich, an enthusiastic
collector, bleacher and articulator of bones
and skeletons. The room certainly was not
an inviting place in which to pass a lonely
hour if the visitor happened to entertain
any superstitious prejudices against the
society of two gaunt skeletons, half adozen
grinning skulls. some ribs and thigh
bones and other choice selections from the
human frame which lay about the sleeping
apartment in artistic confusion. Stuck be-
tween the teeth Of one of the heads was the
doctors pipe and one of the skeletons in
cabinet that looked like burial casket
standing upon an end had an umbrella
leaning against bony hand and pair of
rubber overshoes on the feet Before the
reporter had time to become better &C
quainted with the sepulchral surroundings
the genial little doctor, who, though now
engaged IN mercantile pursuits,sti clings
fondly to his anatomical studies, entered
the room and greeted him. When the an
atomist had warmed his tingling fingers
by the stove and had settled himself back
in an easy chair, the reporter explained
that the object of his visit was to learn some
thing abont the value, the demand and the
supply of human frames and their compo-
nent parts. ''Well, as to the demand" he
said, that varies greatly, though at pres
ent it is good and likely to continue so.
Until about a year ago physicians and stu
dents used to be very easily satisfied. They
would content themselves with an artificial
skeleton or one of their own construction.
And have seen some of these figures most
'fearfuIly and wonderfully made' The
work of preparing the bones and articulat
ing them is one requiring not only nice
skill, but knowledge of some very valua-
BILE secrets in the art of bleaching bones.
These ale known best by the French, and
the Americans have only half mastered the
way, though there is very perceptible i'm
provement."
"Are there many skeletons prepared in
this country?'
''Oh, there are plenty of homemade
ones, but comparatively few are made for
sale. And yet this country furnishes
greater advantages for obtaining the spec
linens than any other. There are few
makers in New York who do very credit
able work, but it looks clumsy in COM
parison with the neatly jointed bones of a
French figure"
''The English come next to the French
in Skill" continued the speaker, "and some
very pretty ones come from Norway. The
business Of importing these skeletons is
now quite extensive and is carried on by
nearly all the large firms who deal in sur
gical instruments. There is one French
man in New York who can produce
as fine skeletons as can be purchased
abroad, but he values his skill so much
that he would charge you quite as much
for form as you have to pay to import
one. There is almost an open field to for
tune in this country for good maker, as
the prices of corpses are 80 much lower
than those prevailing abroad that he could
yet realize very handsome profit"
Switch is valued the most, the skeleton
of male or fsmale?"
''Strange to say" continued the doctor,
''the male form is much preferred. The
skeleton of an Indian used to be of great
value, because it was generally better de-
veloped in all its parts than that
of a white man. AS to prices they
vary according to the degree of workman
ship, development of the specimen, size
and color. You can buy some skeletons
for $45, and Others will cost you 500 to
500. Four years ago you could have
bought the former for $35 or $40, and the
better ones for $50 or $685."
''Skulls are valued according to the num-
Der of sections into which they are di-
vided,' the doctor went on in a cheerful
tone. "Some may be had nicely prepared
for $45, and others will cost as much as
$40. These are the imported ones I refer
to. But there are other importations be-
sides skeletons and skulls. For instance,
you can order a good heavy pair of thigh
bones for SIS or S."
"How long will the bones keep"
"Many years, if they be properly pre-
pared. Some systems of bleaching them
cause them to decay very rapidly. Various
attempts have been made by anatomists
and scientists of this country to discover
the French process of whitening them, but
no very satisfactory results have yet been
obtained. I have been experimenting
upon bones for many years and I fatter
myself that have got as close to the
method as anybody; but can't claim to
have equaled it, by any means. But I'm
hopeful yet, and if ever do hit upon the
secret I know that I and my friend there
with the umbrella and overshoes will soon
be able to change our home from the
third floor back of Twelfth street
clearinghouse to something more
palatial.''