Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-26
To preserve the Dead ana the living.
from the New York Herald.


William H. Daniels. Of Chicago, says he
has discovered q mode of treating the bodies
of the departed SO az to prevent decay
absolutely, and the manner is 40 new sys-
tenn OF embalning. 1t is bath-e mineral
beth-administered in 40 air tight chamber.
For tan days the discovery has been given
test at The Chicago Medical College and
doctors say that the results are very promis-
lag and the discovery exceedingly remarka-
bic Fifteen days ago q man died ct the in.
Grmary. The body was taken t. the
morgue, where, for five days, il under vent
the processes decomposition. There were
several scars and bruises on iba budy, which
had the effect of making the process OF de.
cay more rapid. The abdomen was greatly
swollen, the syelds were rolled back, and
the decay was assuming very offensive
character. Aitsr securing the body they
had TO select a place of operation. z little
upper room in the Chicago Medical College
was chosen-a pro-dissecting room, one so
offensive from long use and no renovating
that it had been locked and, it was said,
prohibited from ever being reopened. There
the discoverefs held their noses while
they locked the body in the alright cham
Der and applied the mineral vapor bath.
The body was in the bath for two hours.
When the experImenters revisited the room
the little attic, they declare, was as fresh
and sweet as perlor, all the offensive odor
having disappeared. The specimen was
laid out en- Q bier, exposed 10 the air and
The :aoahnE attacks of decomposition. 1t
had lsn there just eleven days when Mr..
Daniels and q few doctors and admirers
climbed up 20 the little room 10 view the
effects af the experiment. Decomposition
had, il seemed, heen arrested, Flesh tiuts ap.
peared all over The body. The rolled eye
lids we're gradually closing. presenting the
appearance o! man in peaceful sleep.
All swelling had disappeared, and it was
positively asserted that the bruises were
healing. It is claimed the body can be pre-
served throughout eternity by this bath.
The only change will be produced by an
evaporation of moisture from the body, but
that will not promote decomposition any.
The bath seems to destroy the decomposng
bacteria. this means the narrowing thought
that departed friends will be subjected to the
invasions OF worms is dispelled The body
will never decay, but will be es lasting as if
petrifed. II The effects observed in this e1.
pertinent are reliable and consequential to
the mineral vapor, none need ever fear q
CUElGSlCu5 UiSSdeS uc Ncpp! ~ "a HCiAOSp
dsinfecant The bath will not only pre-
serve the body, but me vapor in sick room
will purge it Of all impure atmosphere and
render contagious disease absolutely non,
infections The world need fear yellow fe-
ve:, smallpox, &c, no more. 4 physician
said to Herald correspondent, who was pre-.
sent: "Just smell this body. There is no daa-
greeable odor about it," SO saying the learn
ed pnyscan ran his nose along The surface
Of the body, and looked up with q satisfied
smile. The correspondent, however, decin-
ed to follow suit. Mr.. Daniels is music
dealer, aud he has pursued this study mere
ly as q matter of personal interest. Il is
said that twenty-five hours, or more or less,
according to the stage Of decomposition, is
necessary to restore the BODY to state OF
preservation. 1t has been suggested that if
e decaying body can take mineral vapor
bath and regain its perfection and last al
ways why can't q live man take the bath
and live forever? The true problem OF eter
nal life may have been solved.