The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-09


skin Of another egg. The national mu-
scum possesses nearly all Of the great
aux bones in existence; they are the most
costly bones in the world.
The finest collection of skeletons in the
world is stored at the national museum.
They are arranged in a series so as 10 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 q woman for S5O-seX makes
some difference in the price-whereas the
skeleton Of a gorilla costs $500, of a whale
$50, of an elephant 500, of a lion SIS, of
a horse so, OF cat Sl2 ana Of a python
S75.
The bones of a human being are nearly
one-quarter water during the life of the
individual. They are chiefly composed
OF phosphate of lime, but contain good
deal of animal matter and other elements.
In the skeleton of man are nearly four
pounds OF the metal calcium, which is
many times more valuable than gold, be-
Ing worth $500 an ounce. Thus in the
osseous framework of the average tramp
may be found material with a market
value of about SIS, 600, but the trouble is
10 separate it from the substances with
which it is combined; that is what makes
calcium costly.
HUMAN BONES AS FERTILIZERS.
1t is only in bones that phosphate OF
lime is found in anything like pure
state. Everybody knows the value of
that material as fertilizer, but il is only
recently that human skeletons have been
imported into this country TO grow crops
with. Not long ago a shipment was made
from Mexico to the United States of ten
carloads of human bones, said to have
been Obtained from ancient mounds in
Southern Mexico, but more probably gath
cred from various old and abandoned Gem
eteries. AS these remains were fragments
of unassorted skeletons, it was estimated
that $4,000 individuals were represented
in the lot.
This would not be considered a novelty
in Europe Years ago English farmers
1 used human BODIES to some extent to fer
! tilize their land. The battlefield of
Waterloo was for time the base of sup
| plies, and this was supplemented by mum
mics from Egypt ground TO a tine powder.
| The mummies were fetched for this pur-
pose by the cargo and the preserved
/ corpses of people dead for thousands OF
| years doubtless formed part of the con
| signments, but the bulk of this material
/ consisted of mummies of cats and other
| small animals. The Egyptians of old
used TO mummy the cat, ibis and
! other creatures, which they regarded as
/ sacred.
| In ancient Egyptian tombs are found
/ great numbers of copper boxes, opening
at one end by a slide, which contains
mummies of cats, hawks, ibises, and now
and then snakes and small crocodiles.
! Mummies are a recognized commercial
! article in that country to-day. For long
] time locomotives We're run between CAIRO
| and Suez with no other fuel. C0rpses of
M oil and avaA
| fetch high prices. The processes adopted
for their preservation began with the re-
moval of the intestines. Then the brain
was taken out through the nostrils, and
| the body, after being soaked in preserva-
| tive substances, was wrapped round and
round with bandages. The bundle this
| made was placed inside of papier mache
case formed of pulp composed Of linen
and whiting. and this was inclosed in a
series of wooden collins.
Less than year ago the Australian
! bark Villa was deserted by her crew.
Later she was picked up as a derelict off
! Cane Hatteras and fetched into the port
of New York. Her cargo was found to
| consist in large part of bones, and of these
| one-fourth were human. The balance
! was composed mainly OF the bones Of
| horses and cattle. In one corner Of her
] hold was a great heap Of human skulls
Nobody knows to this day why the crew
deserted the vessel in mid ocean. She
/ was worth so 600, including her freight.
| The grewsome character of the latter
was added TO By frightful doors and the
/ presence of swarms Of blue flies In
| formation obtained respecting the bark
from Alexandria, in Egypt, showed that
| the bones had been collected in deserts
apd cemeteries of that country and were
shipped to the United States for use as a
/ fertilizer
PREPARING SKELETONS FOR MARKET.
The preparation of human skeletons for
market is quite an important industry.
/ The chief center for this branch of COM
mercial activity is Paris where three
! concerns are engaged in the business on a
considerable scale. They obtain the re-
/ quisite supplies Of raw material in the
| shape of bodies from public institutions,
most of them being those Of paupers and
criminals who have died in the asylums
and prisons. The French government
considers 1t a good plan to turn to use
full account ip this way after death the
! thieves and murderers who have been
enemies Of society during their lifetime.
| II is a rule recognized in most countries
that person who accepts the hospitality
of an almshouse must sacrifc the priv
/ lege of ordinary Christian burial.
In the United States the existing laws
would not permit the establishment of
factory for bleaching and preparing HUI
man skeletons. The bodies of criminals
and paupers may find their way 10 the
dissecting rooms Of medical colleges. but
/ IL Is required that eventually they shall
/ be accounted for and buried. But in
/ Europe this matter is regarded from a
different point Of view, and the manufac-
! ture Of skeletons Of men, women and chill
dren for the market is regularly con-
/ Quoted in Berlin and Vienna, as well as
| in Paris. Thus il happens that the HUI
man skeletons required by scientific in
/ stitutions 10 this country are imported
/ from broad. The only sort Of skeleton
produced here is Of the family type,
| which is kept in the closet
/ To supply the demand in this country
| about 800 skeletons are imported annu-
/ ally. This reckoning does not include
minor parts, such as skulls and thiQh-
bones. These are in great request by
secret societies, being absolutely indis-
| pensable for initiatory ceremonies. One
! may purchase a Uranium and cross bones
/ for only 80. Kut if you want something
/ really fancy In the way OF a skull you
must pay $40. IL is worth the money,
| however, being beautifully disarticulated,
so that each particular bone may be
/ studied separately, including even the
/ little bones OF the ear. The lower jaw
/ can be detached, and this feature is cal
I culated 10 excite pleasant thoughts In the
| mind Of q man who has a mother-in-law.