Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-03-16
TO PLATE THE DEAD.
Scientists Propose to Cover Corpses
with Metals.
In Which Condition They VIII Keep
Forever - The Process Said TO
BE Superior to the Present
Method OF EmbaIming.

Among the topics constantly agitat-
ing social and sanitary experts are
the difficulties of urban sepulture- The
largest cities no longer tolerate burial
cemeteries within their 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 the pres
ent way of conducting funerals have
been developed by the progressive
spirit of the times that it IS no wonder
that in this peculiar field also there
should be an application Of scientific
elements.
Evidences found by delivers into the
extant relics of the past of the pro-
fiency the ancients attained in the
process of embalming have encouraged
modern attempts at the preservation
of the dead. Some of these are mere
temporary expedients to keep the body
for a brief time before burial. Others
attempt to make the preservation per-
manent. 4 qualified success in this di-
rection has led 20 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 its latest field
of operation.
4 scientist Of most advanced cleo
trical ideas, who recently returned from
Europe, is the advocate of an applica-
tion of electrical methods for the pres
ervauon of the dead. He holds that
his experiments prove it not only en-
tirely practical, but the genuine end Of
the age system of permanent embalm-
ing He has been 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 a stay in Rome he visited the
famous cemetery of the Capuchins, un-
der the church of that order, in the
Piazza de Cappuccini. Here the vaults
contain tOmbs with earth from Jeru-
salem. When new interments are to be
made the bones longest undistdrb
in these vaults are taken out. From
these the most ghastly decorations for
the walls and roofs have been fash
ioned. While looking at the crumbling
remains of the 1000 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 a 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 a thin film of metal deposited on
the entire surface it is first covered with
plumbago-more familiar to unscien-
tific ken in stove polish. Then with an
acid bath and the electric current the
transfer is effected.
Ordinary metallic platings of table
ware and other articles of familiar use
are common enough, but experiments
had to show that the idea was also ap-
plicable to other substances. Meats
and vegetable fibers were so treated TO
his satisfaction, and then he advanced
TO his embalming theory.
In this the body is prepared for the
ordinary embalming. The viscera are
removed and the preservative liquid is
injected into the veins. a coating Of
metal applied by the electro-plating
process then Theoretically incases the
whole frame and it is preserved intact
forever.
In this outer shell gold silver, copper
or nickel could be used to suit the
purse and fancy of those having the en-
balmment done. With it collins and
caskets could be done away with. \
man could perpetuate himself in endur-
ing brass or more precious metals.
The Charles Surfaces of the future
who have to raise money on their own
| 'fesh and blood could transmit to the
Sir divers securities that had intrinsic
| as well as artistic values. Chicago
Journal.