The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-23
DESICcATIoN oF TIE pEAp

Science has at last, TO the satisfaction OF
many leading sanitarians, physicians and
clergymen, solved the question OF the
disposal of the dead without awaking
the revulsion that is sometimes easily
aroused by the prevalent method OF bury
ing the body in tho earth or by the process
OF cremation, which has 80 many in
telligent advocates in many States in
this country and in some of the nations OF
Europe. This process Is one OF de,cca-
ton, by which the gases and moisture Of
the body are extracted by means Of cur
rent OF dry air, and was first advocated
by the Rev. Dr. Charles A. Harvey, in a
paper read by him at the recent meeting
OF the American Mcdico.L Legal Society,
held in New York City. lie proposes
the erection OF mausoleum 100 feet
square that will hold 10000 desiccated
bodies, in glass covered and Theoretically
sealed receptaclcs so that, II necessary, for
the purposes Of criminal inquiry, they
may be easily accessible, at the same time
that they have been made harmless, no
matter what tho disease OF which they
have died.
The sencui plan a the proposed inausolcum Is
large building, bcautncd with the adormeuts
OF architecture and SCULPTURE, with arrangements
for great number Of scpulturns on different no1rs
viii mon OF les privacy according TO cost each
body TO bc perfectly accessible At all times The
srpulches arr formed of concrete. aud run In rows
and tiers similar TO the arrangements OF the vaults
In saic deposit company cxccp, where family
gnoups OF clusters aw specially arranged. with dt.
thus rooms OF parlon adjoining Each sepulcher
has one opening Tor admitting the body. In this
thcrc T. plate glass door. Theoretically sealed aud
outside q marble 90 metal door for safety. When
the outer door 4 Opened the body may be seen
without discolomton OF decay. emncinlcd. Of
course, but preserving the outlines of the features
The preserving Of the body Is effected by means
Of a current oi dr. air. Them arr conduits formed
In the concrete which bring the dry air into the
scpulchen AZ one cnd. Whic at the other cnd the
air curruni passes out laden with the gases and
molsiurs at the body, which an conducted 20 a
furnace aud consumed, 20 that no dclcteriou.
gases or Offensive udcr can escape 10 the outer air
u T., IN fact cremation ct the decaynbe Gle.
mcnt Of the body. leaving the general structure
Intact and akin Ca the change that Is produced by
Old age when the rutund form disappears aud the
body shrlnks 10 lesser slle
The process bcingaccomplishedi in ninety
days, the air conduits being sealed up
after the process has been accomplished
Before broaching hisplan, DIR. Harvey made
several experiments on amin ais, ono Of
which resulted In the reduction Of pig
with its thick cuticlc, weighing twenty.
two pounds, to seven and ono-hali pounds
In nine weeks. This experiment induced
a test upon the body Of a man, who had
died in public hospital, which weighed
100 pounds, but was reduced by the dcsic.
cation process in thirteen months to about
fifty pounds Tho face is. Of course, cma-
ciaied, but easily recognizable. This re-.
suit demonstrated the practicability Of the
process, and the formation OF mausoleum
company resulted. Prof. Charles lnslcc
Pardcc, Of the Medical College OF the Uni
vcrsiiy Of the City Of New York, aud Dr.
Rudolph A. Williams, Professor Of Chem.
is,ry and Physics in the same college, con-
Quoted the experiment, aud the process Is
approved by the following named aud
wcll.known Christian ministers Rcvs.
Josiah Strong, Howard Crosby. Henry
McCmckcn, L. 7. Fowler, Egbcrt Gucr-
ney, all Of New York; |. I. Chamberlain
and Frank II. CLARK, Of Brooklyn; Dr. A.
n. Bell, editor Of The Saniiaridn, and DR..
A. Y 7. Garrett. Of Washington, Prcsi.
dent Of the American Medical Association.
whosays that having 'had an opportunity
Of witnessing the experiment Of dos.
locating human body, feel persuaded
tina, the invention for that purpose Is dies.
tined 10 proys one Of vast importance.
The principle on which il is constructed Is
one Of scientific accuracy, and has been
reduced TO practical fact ~ far as can
see" Aud Dr. Bcll says ''it meets the
sanitary demand that the dead shall not
become perpetual source OF danger TO
the living" In conclusion Il l. to be said
tina, the process Is not new one. The
ancient Philippians pmciiecd II, the
Colchians, the Tartars, the Pcruyians and
also somo African and Australian tribes
Tho Capuchin monks near Palermo also
dc-i coated their dead In ovens aud after.
wand hung them In inches hut oven this
las, method was crude compared with that
which DR.. Harvey PROPOSES and which will
no doubt meet the approval Of some iniclli.
gent persons, but Is as surc to bo con.
!ronicd by popular prejudice rs cremation
has been, the only process that, like burial.
makes fnal disposition OF the body ne ma.
turc intended.
Hrff Nnuaf H.. a x.,,s .........I.l H..