Arizona republican., 1899-03-21
TO PLATE THE DEAD.
Scientists Propose to Cover Corpses with Metals.
In Which Condition They Will Keep Forever = The Process Said to He Superior to the Present
 Method of EmbaIming.

Among the topics constantly agitat-
 ing social and sanitary experts are
 he difficulties of urban sepulture. The
 largest cities no longer tolerate burial cemeteries within heir limits. The ex- pense and trouble that this prohibition
 involves have given rise to the alterna-
 tive ideas of incineration and other
 similar methods for the disposition of
 the dead. So many details of he pres
 ent way of conducting funerals have
 been developed by the progressive I spirit of the times that it is no wonder that in this peculiar field also there should be an application of scientific clements
 Evidences found by delivers into the eXtant relics of the past of the pro fiency the ancients attained in the process of emDalming have encouraged modern attempts at the preservation of the dead. Some of these are mere temporary eNpedients to keep the body for a brief time before burial. Others attempt to make the preservation per manent. A qualified success in this di- rectiOn has led to the assertion that the lost art of embalming has been rediscovered
 This is the age of electrical wonders The area of human affairs into which the mysterious current does not run and revolutionize existing conditions is practically unknown. The domain of the great majority is it's latest field of operation.
 A scientist of most advanced eIec- trical ideas, who recently returned from Europe, is the advocate of an applica- ton of electrical methods for the pres ervation of the dead. He holds that his experiments prove it not only en- tirely practical, but the genuine enhof the age system of permanent embalm- ing. He has been a laborious student of Egyptology, and is familiar with all the discoveries made in the disinte- grating of the mummies from their an cient coverings.
 During stay in Rome he visited .the | famous cemetery of the Capuehins, un der the church of that order, in the | Piazza de Cappuccini. Here the vaults | contain tombs with earth from Jeru- l salem. When new interments are 10 be | made the bones longest undisturbed |
  these the most ghastly decorations for tile walls and roofs have been fash tened. While looking at the crumbling | of the 4,000 departed monks lined up against the wall it occurred to him that if bodies were only treated to the electrical process by which they could be incased in metallic surface they would thus be preserved intact and lifelike for all time.
 Experiments followed, which the sci enlist regards as highly satisfactory. | To those unfamiliar with the process of electrotyping it may be said that to have thin film of metal deposited on the entire surface it is first covered with familiar to unscien- fife ken in stove polish. Then with an Icid bath and the electric current the transfer is effected.
 Ordinary metallic platings Of table ware and other articles of familiar use Ire common enough, but experiments lad to show that the idea was also ap- 1licable to other substances. Meats md vegetable fbers were so treated to lis satisfaction. and then he advanced O his embalming theory.
 III t4A4o lIN OON4h 1S lJI pd1 GU lOI lIO |. embalming. The viscera are emoved and the preservative liquid is injected into the veins. \ coating of metal applied by the electroplating process then dramatically incases the ' whole frame and it is preserved intact orever.
 In this outer shell gold, silver, copper , r nickel could be used to suit the urse and fancy of those having the em- almment done. With it collins and askets could be done away with. A nan could perpetuate himself in endur lg brass or more precious metals.
 The Charles Surfaces of the future -ho have to raise money on their owE a flesh and blood" could transmit 10 the ir Olivers securities that had intrinsic $ well as artistic values.-Chicago ournal.