Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04

scented now by skeleton, worth 5000.
standing by heap of bird remains such
as chiefly compose the surface soil of Funk
Island, while alongside is an egg of the
fowl, valued at $500 together with the
inner skin OF another egg. The National
Museum possesses nearly all of the great
aux bones in existence: they are the most
costly bones in the world. The finest collec-
ton of skeletons In the world is stored at
the National Museum. They are arranged
In series, so as to run upward from the
lowest fishes through the reptiles and birds.
to man. Human bones are much cheaper
than those of many other animals. One
can buy nicely -articulated skeleton of
! man for $40 or of a woman for sJ0-sex
makes some difference In the price-whereas
the skeleton OF a gorilla costs $500, of
whale $3.50, OF AN elephant 500, of a lion
$fJ. of horse $40. Of cat 81, and of a
python $40.
the bones Of human being are nearly
| cre-quarter water during the life of the
individual They are chiefly composed Of
phosphate of lime, but contain a good deal
Of animal matter and other elements In
the Skeietcn of man are nearly four
pounds of the metal calcium. which is many
tli.:eS more Valuable than gold, being worth
SSoo an ounce. Thus in the osseous frame
Work or the average tramp may be found
material with market value of about SIS
! U", but The trouble is to separate It from
the substances with which il is combined
That Is what makes calcium costly. IL is
only IN bones that phosphate of lime Is
icuho IN anything like pure state. Every
body knows the value Of that ma terial as a
FERTILIZER, but IL Is only recently that human
skeletons have been imported into this
country to grow crops With. Not long ago
II shipment was made from Mexico to the
United States of ten carloads of human
homes IN hoo
Gent mounds in southern Mexico. but more
probably gathered from various old and
abandoned cemeteries. As these remains
were fragnenIs o. Nnassofted skeletons il
was estimated that $500 individuals We're
represented in the lot
EuEinH Bones as Fertilizer,
rms would not be considered novelty
IL Europe. Years ago English farmers
used human bones. 10 some extent TO fer
tlize their land. The battlefield of Wafer
100 was for ti!ae the base of supplies and
t'iiS was supplemented oy mummies from
Egypt groand to a me powder TIE
iitGihinies We're fetched FOR :Bis purpose by
tie cargo, AMI the preserved corpses OF
people dead for thousands Of years doubt
ies5 formed part Ct the consignments, bat
tac tLiA OF the material consisted VI mum
lAieS tt cats ani Jthec small animals The
l-S pt4ans Of o!i used to Immunity the cat
loiS ana other creatures, which they re
Sardci as s.crvi. in ancient Egyptian
ooAcs, opening At one end Is a slide. which
contain E!uEiinles CT cats hawks ibisss
ana now and then snakes and snlali croco-
dies MunlnieS are a recognized CONNER
Cal arucie in that country today For a
long time locomotives We're run between
Cairo and SleZ with no other fuel. Corpses
Of royal peisonaScS, $3.50 years Old and
upward, fetch high prices. The processes
adopted Ter their preservation beean with
the removal of The inteStines. Then the
brain was taken out through the nustrils
and the body, after berg soaked in pre-
SerNauNe substances, was wrapped round
AMI round with aniaGes. The bundle thus
made Gas placed ilSi8e of a pa pier maChe
case formed Of pulp composed of linen
and whiting, and this inciosed in a
series Of wooden collins.
Less than 4 year ago the Austrian bari.
Via was deserted 10y her crew. Later she
was picked up a iereiirt of Cape Hat
tcraS AMI fetcLel into the port of New
York. Her cargo was found 10 consist in
large part Cf bones, and of these one
fourth were human. The balance was COM
posel mainly of the bones of horses and
cattle. Ii one corner of her hold Was a
great heap of human skulls, Nobody knows
10 this day why the crew deserted the YES
sci III mid-Cccan. She was worth Si0,NU0.
including her freight. The ;;T-esorne char
'acter Of the latter was added to by frightful
C1c~S ard the presence Of Swarms Of blue
flies. Information obtained respecting the
bark from AleXariria, in Egypt. showed
that the boaes had been collected in deserts
and cemeteries of that country and were
shipped to the United States for use as
fertilizer. The preparation of human skele-
tons for market is quite an important in
duStry. Tho chief center for this branch
Of commercial activity is Paris, where
three concerns are enesng ed in the business
on a considerable scale. They obtain the
requisite supplies of raw material in the
shape Of bodies from public institutions.
most Of them being those of paurers and
criminals, who have died in the asylums
and prisons. The French government con-
x.1, @T,.n
account in this way after death the thieves
and murderers who have been enemies
of society during their lifetime. 1t is rule
recognized In most countries that person
who accepts the hospitality Of an aImshouse
must sacrifice the privilege of ordinary
Christian burial.
Europe Supplies the Skeletons.
In the United States the existing laws
would not permit the establishment of q
factory for bleaching end preparing human
skeletons The bodies of criminals and
paupers may find their way to the dissect-
ing rooms of n edicaI colleges, but IL is
seduirei that eventually they shall be ac-
counted for and buried. But in Eurorc
this matter Is regarded from a different
point of view. and the manufacture of
skeletons OF men. women and children for
the market is regularly conducted In Ber-
Tin and Vienna. as well as In Paris. Thus
it happens that the human skeletons re-
uuirei by scientific institutions in this
only sort of skeleton produced here is of
the family type. which is kept in the
closet. To supply the demand in this coun-
try about 800 skeletons are imported an
nually. This reckoning does not include
minor parts, such skulls and thigh bones
These in great request by secret So
cieties, being absolutely Indispensable for
inltatory ceremonies. One may purchase
a Uranium and cross bones for only So
But If you want something really fancy in
the way of a skull you must pay so. 1t
Is worth the money however, being beau
tifuiiy disarticulated, so that each particu-
lar bone may be studied separately, in
Guiding even the little bones of the ear.
The lower jaw can be detached. and this
feature is calculated to excite pleasant
thoughts In the mind of a man who has
a mother-in-law.
You can buy very good skeleton COM
piete for $40. A plain skull costs only
S. BY students of obstetrics there Is
special demand for the pelvls, which comes
at 81 Clubs organized to defy supersti-
tious beliefs affect the use of skulls for
drinking cups, and young men who are
studying for the medical profession indulge
a ghastly humor by employing similar re-
Ccptacics to hold tobacco. The demand
for human bones always exceeds the sup
ply. 1t Is said that the finest work ever
bestowed on 4 skeleton may be seen In
that used by the magician Hermann,
though he Will not permit anybody to ex-
anime it. The first operation in preparing