The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-25
A USELESS SECRET.

Two very eminent professors who are
known to science as electro-therapeutists
and bacteriologists have just discovered
. means By which at least half the diseases
to which the human flesh is heir can be
prevented. There may be some diseases
left In whose mischief bacilli and bacteria
have no part, but It 10 not 20 many years
ago when II was an accepted principle Of
pathology that II phosphates could be adj
ministered In . certain form man might
almost live forever. 30 that germinology
ought to BE- supplemented by such . dis
coyery ~ should make the physician only
an annihilator Of bacteria and admins
terer Of the requisite quantities Of phos-
pilates.
1t seems unfortunate in . sense that just
when the duties Of . medical advisor have
been % closely restricted and the ONCE Of
undertaken rendered sinecure, somebody
should have stumbled upon the secret for
preserving the dead body which we have
been earnestly seeking for over two thou
sand years. 1t Is reported that an en-
balmer OF Ohio has discovered the original
Egyptian process Of mummification and
has very successfully tried 1t upon a body
whose skin he has made as hard and
brown as tanned leather. Before We lend
our full praise to this revival Of an old
process we would like to know what good
purpose Is served after death by having
the skin made to look like tanned leather,
and the abandoned tenement of the de-
parted spirit prevented from fulfilling its
natural destiny by returning dust to dust
and earth to earth. 1t Is little satisfaction
to one who is about to shuttle on this NOR
tai coil to contemplate that about two or
three thousand years from now he may be
as fuel, as they are said to have done in
Egypt within the past few years. or be
dug up and carried on by some curiosity
hunter to remote place like Tacoma,
put on exhibition and made fun Of
The motive for preserving the body
which actuated the Egyptians is entirely
wanting now. and human intelligence has
Invested the return of a body to earth Of
that fear which actuated the ancients that
unless the human form was preserved in
tact there could be no resurrection for 1t.
We know now. or We think we know, that
whatever the conditions beyond the grave
may be, the dispersion Of the elements
which constitute the body will have no
effect AT least we hope so. because II We
should be wrong and the Egyptians right
a good many Of us are likely to be much
disappointed when Gabriel sounds his
trumpet.
There Is no good purpose to be served by
the preservation OF the body. The care Of
the accumulated tens OF thousands OF
mummies in catacomhs. multiplying year
after year. II uselessness which would
become almost preposterous. Three gen.
erations scarcely pass away before IN
terest In the identity OF a corpse is lost.
Our experience with monuments shows
how very few people care for the remains
OF their ancestors more than two degrees
removed. and the prospect Is that the su-
ture win see the adoption Of cremation or
reader disposition OF remains. instead OF
efforts 20 artifcialiy preserve tina. for
which there seems 10 be no further use IN
the economy OF nature except through de-
composition and resoivency