The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-06-21
Embalming School Held at owosso
casket Works, June 12 and 1a.

While nearly every person realizes
the great improvement made in the
methods used for preparing the dead for
burial, few people really understand the
importance of embalming. Even under
takers have been slow to see necessity
for becoming expert embalmers. But
since science points so plainly to the
fact that the spreading of disease may
be prevented by the use of chemicals
infused into The arteries of the dead, the
people are waking up to the matter and
what was once considered merely an act
to beautify death is now looked upon as
a necessary precaution in preserving
health.
In view of this end, the Egyptian
Chemical Co., of Boston, Mass, send out
expert lecturers and demonstrators of
anatomy and embalming, holding free
schools at different places through the
country. At the school held in this city
last week Prof. G. II. Sherive, Vice Pres
ident of the Egyptian Chemical Co., Of
| fciated. Nearly one hundred practical
undertakers were in attendance.
Hearing from an outsider that there
was the incest looking body of men at
| the casket factory that had ever been in
| town, we went to see and were con-
vinced of the truth of the assertion.
| We were presented to the Professor who
kindly went into details for our benefit,
explaining many things which had long
been a mystery to us. He said that the
experiments made by their experts
proved this modern method of embalm-
ing far superior to that of the ancients,
as in this case there was no mutilation
of the body simply small incision
easily repaired, and that instead of petri-
flying the body as were the mummies of
old, the effect was more like leather and
that the method was as lasting. He has
on exhibition, at his Office in Boston, IL
subject embal med five years ago, entirely
unchanged except brown tinge Of
color, and he has seen some of the first
experiments with their fluid, made more
than twelve years ago still in good
state of preservation. The Professor is
good talker and complimented his
Owosso class very highly as being the
most attentive and appreciative class he
had ever taught. When called upon to
operate on the cadaver used for demon
stration there were no failures.
The Factory wore gala look. All the
employees had entered into the spirit of
the work and set out some fine spec-
mems Of their handiwork. Frank Wood
ard and Arthur Nichols, who have
charge of the hardware and robes, had
an elegant display of silver plates, han
dies in all styles and the finest Of burial
robes, all tastefully arranged. The wood
goods, fresh from the hands of James
Jordan, the foreman of the finishing
department, were specimens of high art,
while in the cloth room, which is under
the supervision of Charlie Rubekam, we
saw nine as fine cloth cases as we have
ever seen. Mr.. Rubekam is an artist in
his speciality. The designs are all ori-
ginal and beautifully executed. One
style, the latest design, was exhibited in
black cloth and in drab plush, and is
called the Mcmillan"
Mr.. Woodard and his gentlemanly
employees did the agreeable to the class,
showed them the town, and, as one and
all eagerly expressed themselves, gave
them good time.
Following is a list of the undertakers
of the class, all Of whom, Prof Sherive
assures us, are fully capable of perform.
ing arterial embalming. Possibly some
one was omitted, but an effort was made
to get correct list with this result