The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-11-13
EMBALMlNo TIE DEAD.

EMsALMINo THE DEAD.
Old Methods and the Kethsa Of the Best
Embalmer In Europe.
The art Of embalming r probably
more closely studied and certainly more
scientifically practiced at Geneva than
in any other European city. There are
many foreign residents and travellers in
the place, and it often happens that when
one Of these dies his body is sent home
for burial. This is especially the case
with Americans, who strongly object 70
burying their dead in cemeteries where,
after fifteen or twenty years, according
to continental usage, every memento Of
them may be obliterated and other
bodies laid in the same grave.
Several GenevaA physicians make en-
balming part of their business, with
great advantage to themselves, the
fee being necessarily heavy one.
But the most successful embalmer in
Geneva, probably in Europe, is Profess
sor LaskOwski, of the University, and
his process, Of which he makes no Sc
cret, is being generally adopted. He
has been equally successful N the pre-
servation q anatomical specimens, to
which, besides making them absolutely
inodorous, he imparts al the appear
ance and suppleness of fresh pieces. An
English physician. with whom our cor
respondent once visited the museum Of
the Medical Faculty, assured him that
the specimens were far superior to any
thing of the sort in any other European
collection which he had seen. A short
time ago Professor Laskowski. ut q
meeting of the Geneva Medical Society,
read a paper on the art of embalming,
in which he gave a full explanation Of
his method. Yet he was careful to poSnt
out that the mere process was no more
than half the battle, and that only
special talent, improved by long and
persevering effort. could insure com-
plete success.
The method of embalming practieed
BY the ancient Egyptians was rudimen-
tary in the extreme. 1t consisted merely
in disembowelling the body. replacing
the viscera with aromatic herbs and
melted pitch, and after drying it by
means of a salt which extracted the
humidity, enveloping the corpse in a
mass of bandages. In modern times
the more rational method has been
adopted of injecting into the body to be
preserved antiseptic fluids through the
veins and arteries. This process has
been practiced by Signor Franchina, of
Naples. and M. Canal and DR.. Dupre.
of Paris, but, owing to the defects of
the solutions employed and mistakes in
manipulation, with only partial success.
The liquid used by Prof. LaskOwski con.
sists of a mixture Of carbOlic acid,
Of zinc, and corrosive subli-
mate, withssthe addition of an odorifer-
Gus essence. This solution is as clear as
crystal and pleasant to smell.
To obtain certain results. the opera
ton (the method of which the Professor
explained in great detaiD must be con-
Quoted with the utmost care and atten-
ton. But success, when once achieved,
ls as complete as could be desired. A
body skilfully treated by Prof. Las
kOwskfs method assumes 1.-THE natural
nuu 0StCCoDlC CApICSSlOn IL UOIC lIuuc.
aiately after death, and the skin becomes
firm and as white as Carrara marble.
Examinations of bodies thus preserved,
and the conditions of the specimens in
the anatomical museum, which after the |
apse of years are as perfect as on the
lay they were prepared, prove that they
will remain intact almost indefinitely,
always provided that the specimens are
Kept in air-tight cabinets. and the bodies
placed in Theoretically closed coffins or
other receptacles. Whether it be worth
while to incur the trouble and ex-
Dense which Prof. LaskOwski's
method involves in order to pre-
serve human remains from decay
may be open to doubt. but there can be
10 question that he has brought the art
If embalming to a perfection which it
never previously attained. In other re-
spects his antiseptic discoveries have
proved eminently useful. For, besides
preserving anatomical specimens with
he results above described, he has a
way of treating subjects for dissection
they are deprived of all often
i've OdOr, and students of surgery are
enabled to conduct their operations
the least sense of discomfort or
LANCER to their health.-N y Times.