St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-26
new BURIAL IDEAS.
They Crop Out From Tine
to Time in This
Country.
COFFINS STILL POPULAR.
Embalming, DeSSication and
Cremation Attract Some
People.
NEW SCHEME ALTOGETHER.
A Plan to Silver-Plate People
Who Have Passed
Away.
NEW SCHEME ALTOGETHER.


ancients in some recent experiments on
embalming, say the Philadelphia Times.
He has been Il laboriOuS student Of the
process practiced by the Egyptians, and
Of all the more modern literature upon
the subject. Modern embalming, as
generally practiced, is mere temporary
eXpedient TO preserve the body until it
can be inferred, but this gray-bearded
old man has addressed himself 10 evolv-
Ing process for the permanent preSer-
walton of dead bodies.
His discovery is the art of preserving
animal and vegetable substances 50
either may be kept without sign OF
decay, decomposition or change. Just
how he conceived the Idea that he could
preserve animal and vegetable matter
in its natural state he does not say; but.
after experimenting for years, he de-
clares that he has the art perfected.
His experiments in preserving or en-
balmng were long confined to
lower animals and vegetables, and
SO successful were his efforts that
he determined to test the process on
human bodies. He secured permission
tai for the insane to experiment on two
bodies. These were given into his GUS
tOdy. and in one hour after he had them
in his room he informed the authorities
that they were ready for examination.
The bodies were examined, and it was
found that they had not been mutllated
in any way; not drop of blood had
been drawn. nor an incision or puncture
made in them.
Subsequently the two bodies were
continually exposed to the air and all
kinds of climatic changes without affect
ing their lifelike appearance. the blood
In the veins standing out in blush black
lines plain to be seen on the surface.
Cats, dogs, fowls. rabbits. fawus and
other animals have been embalmed
with like success.
The inventor OF the new process is
described as plain ana frank. with only
moderate education, but he has been
too shrewd to give the slightest Idea of
his process. However. he does not hes
itate 10 say that the process consists of
applying a fluid, the ingredients of
which can be found in almost any gen
sral country store, and that the whole
ihing is so simple child could use it.
y beef packer III Chicago went to see
him with view of using the fluid in
The preservation of beef for the market.
He asked the inventor if he could pre-
serve, say, 500 beeveS and keep them
thirty days. The answer was: Il can
not say. | have kept few pounds of
beef on experiments for nine months"
He positively refused to claim more
power in his process than he can prove
by past experiment to belong to it.
The learned doctors in this country
have recognized him and his secret in
proper way, and the Royal Scientific
association of England several years ago
made him an honorary member. gave
him certificate OF life membership and
asOtd gold medal as a token of the
esteem in which they held him for max
ing 1t possible for the people of this
age no longer 10 speak of the 'lost arp
Of embalming.
Desiccation has been seriously con-
sldered III late years Two or three
years ago project was on foot for
establishing mausOleum for this
particular purpose, which is considered
by scientists TO be quite practicable.
Experiments have been mace upon
animals. and also upon human bodies
with complete success. In the course
of one experiment, conducted by a SAM
tary engineer in Washington, in nine
weeks pig was reduced in weight from
twenty-five TO seven and one-half
pounds, and remained just as plump
and round as in life. In laboratory in
New York city the body of man
weighing lG4 pounds was subjected to
the process and the effect was marvel
BUS.
The projectors Of the desiccation
mauSoleum planned an arrangement
similar to that OF the drawers in safety
deposit vaults, with the interior plan of
the building resembling WelI-ap.
pointed public library, with main corri-
dor and diverging halls leading to diff
ferent sections. These drawers or
sepulchers were to be of solid concrete
Tour inches thick, without Joint or seam.
OF certain sizes, and arranged in tiers of
SIX on either side of the hallway. The
opening into each sepulcherl was pro-
vlGed with two doors, the inner one of
glass Theoretically sealed as soon as
occupied, through which the body could
the outside of iron, wrought gold, silver
or bronze, decorated and adorned ac.
cordiug to the ability and Taste OF reia-
lives.
For family use arrangements were
made tor separate and distinct com
partments of various sizes, with sets or
suites of sepUlcherS adorned as desired,
and having but single entrance. The
space that held the casket in the plans
was cell OF concrete permitting neither
The escape nor admission of moisture.
In tie erection Of the walls hollow
pipes or conduitS were to be formed
over moulds, so that no destructible
material, as iron or metal, were needed.
Through these cOnduits currents Of
dry air were made to pour into the
hermeticaly sealed sepulchers, and
this, passing rapidly and repeatedly
around the body, would extract there
from every trace of moisture, yapor or
mud, and convey it to huge furnace,
where, without possibility of escape,
all noXious matter would be DESTROYED.
Gradually the body becomes hard,
sIlOoth and dry, with little or no
change Of appearance. and that once
done preservation is secured forever.
PROVISION was made against the prema-
lure lnterment by the adjustment of
electrical appliances to the body, so
that the faintest motion would be In
simultaneously conveyed to the guard bv
means OF alarm signals.
The plan was TO have the mausoieum
occupy comparatively little space. A
building covering $50 feet square could
enclose 10000 seDulchers. and one that
occupied an acre would provide as
many resting places as a cemetery of
thirty five acres. With suitable grounds
surrounding the building, and adorn-
ment inside and ont as perfect as taste
and wealth cas dictate, the mausoleum
would be very attractive.
The sepulchers would be numbered
and registered as lots in Cemetery. a
fund pro gided for the perpetual caro- of
all treasures OF art Or nature that might
beprovided, all records of interment
kept i'll the mausoleum and chapel