Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-19
INTEREST IS Keen
IN MUMMY FLUID
Discovery of Secret Of Pharaohs
by Young Scientist I'M
h portant-if True
WOMAN EXPERT EXPLAINS

Philadelphia Psychologists are in
terested in the discovery claimed by
student Of Washington university of
,hc fluid used by the Egyptians. to
immunity their dead. The mummies Of
tbese people have been preserved down
through the ages IL almost perfect cons
aition. and there has always been a
t,en desire to learn the formula en-
ploycd By tie ancients.
Miss II. Newell Wardle. OF the Acad-
emy Of Natural Sciences, was one Of
those who read with careful attention
Of the discovery made by Francis :.
Bennati. youthful student at the Cath
olic University. Washington. II. g. Miss
Wardlc Is the Academy's authority on
mummies and Egyptian lore.
"My first comment would be-" she
soid. "that the world ought to know
tbe formula of this new discovery which
has great possibilities. There have
been vnrious theories advanced as to
thc means of mummification. but 1t has
never been proved that the exact prep
pration of tho people Of Pharaoh
has been asccrtained. Whether or not
This newest discovery Is just what is
hoped remains to be proved. Time and
n painsttaking chemical analysis and
comparison alone can determine the
truth.
Brain Is Dipped
1--WE know that even among the
Egyptians there was decided differ
.nce in the degree of success attained.
The quality Of the mummification seems
to depend on the period. For example.
ne have a mummy here. said to be that
Of an Egyptian princess of high rank.
which consists of nothing much more
than handful or so Of dust and the
inclosipg case. The skeleton of the
princess has not been able to defy the
centuries. even despite the art of those
who did the embalming.
II notice that the story of the new
discovery refers to dipping the brain into
the potent fluid. All scientific re-
search has tended to the belief that the
brain was not included in the embalm-
ing. but has been placed along with the
viscera in the so-called 'canopic jars
immense affairs. which have always
been found beside the mummies.'
The youthful discoverer of the mys-
terious fluid has just obtained his mas
ter's degree at the university, accord
ing to the announcement of the National
Catholic Welfare Council. He has sub
mitted his production to tests and has
had eminent scientists pass upon it..
One of those who has given the product
his unqualified approval is DIR. Il. W.
Shufeldt, of Washington, recognized
as one of the greatest authorities in the
country.
Still Remains Secret
What the production contains still
remains a secret with Mr. Bennati. He
says that its active principle is the oil
Of allium, extracted by a special pro-
cess from any of the plants of the onion
family. 1t is not poisonous, but on
the contrary is believed to have some
medicinal properties.
Relating some of the tests already
made. the National Catholic Welfare
Council states:
That a part of the human brain was
dipped into the fluid, and in short
time became shrunkeh and as hard az
wood, and that when dipped back into
clear water it resumed its normal size
and appearance.
That eggs dipped in the fluid and
removed have kept for six months un
der ordinary conditions of temperature
without the slightest change from the
day they were first dipped.
That beetles. discolored and dis
integrating, were dipped in the fluid,
and that the distintegration halted and
the original colors were restored.
That frogs and fish have been sue =
cessfully preserved for more than year
without the slightest sign of decay.
That human body, twelve days
after death. had been taken under tn :
= favorable conditions, dipped into the
fluid, and is now thoroughly preserved
and shows no tendency towards decom-
position"
1t is expected that the discovery will
be Of commercial value as we'll as scien =
tihc. and another use to which the
fluid has already been put has been
that Of preserving valuable manuscripts,
as well as restoring them. Recently
valuable books in the collection of j
I. Morgan were treated, and for the
hrSt time in centuries were wholly
legible.