The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-01
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY J. 1905
UNDERWRITERS

This mornings session of the North
akota Funeral Directors convention
met in. the Commercial club rooms and
continued with the school of embalm-
ling being conducted by p. w. Hohel-
shuh. The lecturer continued the sub
ject by showing how. the decomposi-
ton germs can best be killed and spe-
cific formulas for producing the proper
antiseptics.
A short business session was held at
which President Mcdonald appointed
committee on resolutions, consisting
of Martin Somdahl of Valley City, w.
M. Chandler Of Grafton and p. W. Eddy
of Jamestown.
Session Yesterday Afternoon.
The last session of the association
was occupied yesterday afternoon
with the lecture of P. w. Hohenshuh,
eX-president of the National Funeral
Directors association, and one of the
eminent authorities on the science of
embalming in the United States In
the morning he gave brief review Of
the work accomplished by the last
meeting of the national organization,
which met at Niagara in August. Yes
terday afternoon he spoke on the
germ and its relation to the science
of embalming. He explained at length
the microscopic nature of the germ
and the part it played in life and in
death. @
There are two kinds of germs, one
that works on the living tissue and
one that works on the dead tissue.
They are vegetables and as such they
must have soil, temperature and mois-
ture on which to thrive. The disease
germ will not grow on dead tissue,
neither will it die when placed on the
dead tissue. The germ which causes
decomposition will not grow and null
tiply in the living body.
How Germs Increase.
While all organs of organic life are
composed of series of cells, por-
ton of an organ is not complete in
itself. On the other hand the germ,
while single cell, is complete in it
self and reproduces by spawn and fis-
sure, or segregation. When fermenta-
ton takes place or decomposition, it
is the simple multiplication of the
cells and their living on the dead It's
sue which destroy the inorganic sub
stance after life becomes extinct Not
only this, but the animals throw off
poison which causes the generation of
gas in the liquids and the decomposi-
ton of the solids.
This is also true OF the disease
germs. 1t is not the presence of the
germ which causes death from diph-
iberia or typhoid fever, for instance,
but the poison which the germs throw
off. In other cases, such as consump-
ton, the tissue is wasted by the in
crease of the germs and death ensues.
The location of the germs from which
death resulted and their nature is in
valuable to the embalmer.
How Decomposition Starts.
All decomposition starts from the
lower abdominal cavity. The germs
which cause decomposition are taken
into the system with the food and
when death comes they begin to null
tiply and must work out over the body
from that region. The hands and feet
are always the last members of the
body to decompose.
A body can be preserved by freez-
ing or drying. In the former, tenn
perature is lacking, and In the latter,
moisture. In either case supply the
missing element to the soil and the
germ grows. In the case of preserva-
ton by cold, heat causes decomposi-
ton. In the case of drying a body
up and preserving it, even If it has laid
for 1000 years, the application of
| water will cause decomposition The
| embalmers' problem Is to cause the
| death of the germ and its spawn 1t
| is we'll known fact that decom-
position germ cannot enter the body
except through the food, air or water.
AS soon as death ensues, decomposi-
ton only occurs by the germs already
in the body reproducing. Any anti
septic which will kill the germs and
their spawn will preserve the body.
| Organisation GROWING.
Yesterday the secretary recorded
the names of 80 new members, max
ing total in all of 80 members in the
state. While it is new organization,
| 1t is coming to the front and will
shortly include all of the undertake
ers in North Dakota and northwest
ern Minnesota.
Yesterday afternoon on motion a
committee of three was appointed to
consider the organization of North
Dakota Furniture Dealers association.
The committee named was: w. j.
Holbrook, John McJannit and w. j.
Engle.
The old members of the association
In attendance are: as follows:
| Ole Peterson, Fosston, Mimi; w.
M. Chandler, Grafton; w. A. Olmstad,
Hannaford; J.. l.. Kimraird, New
Rockford; AL. Schlumpberger. Graf
ton; j. w. Maxwell, Walhalla; Ed.
Washburn, Hope; w. j. Holbrook,
Rugby; E. A. Burnham, Breckenridge !;
Jos. Resley, Abercrombie; H. p.
Brockelburg, Mohall; H. G.. Harmon,