IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EMBALMING DEAD BODIES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ARTHUR SOLOMON LOVETT of Erie in the County of Erie and State of
Pennsylvania United States, Physician do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EMBALMING DEAD BODIES'
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to improvements in embalming apparatus and especially to
cases wherein dead bodies may be treated to suspend decomposition and decay
therein and devices operating in connection with such cases for supplying gas
thereto and removing it therefrom.
The objects of my Invention are firstly :-
To construct a portable cooling board for dead bodies, with a flexible gas tight
cover, capable of being removed at will therefrom for the reception or removal of
a body and devices for supplying gases thereto and removing them therefrom.
Secondly. To provide a portable treating case for embalming dead bodies, which
is constructed so as to be readily opened or closed.
Thirdly. To provide devices and means for supplying gases to the said case and
forcing them around and upon a body placed in such case; also devices and means
for expelling gases from the said case and conducting them out of the room or
building wherein the case is being used.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of my improved embalming
apparatus, a portion of the flexible cover being broken away, shewing a gas
generator inside thereof for supplying gas thereto; Figure 2, is a perspective view
of the lower portion of my improved apparatus with the flexible cover and gas
generator removed therefrom. Similar letters refer to like parts in both the
Figures.
The construction and operation of my embalming apparatus is substantially as
follows:-
The bottom of the case 'B, I construct preferably of a light wooden frame, of any
suitable shape, and cover it with prepared paper, or any substance that is light and
at the same time sufficiently close in texture to retain the gases use in the case.
Hinged to the underside of the frame B are ordinary folding legs E E which are
held in place by means of braces d, d, as shewn in both the Figures. Upon the
[Price 6d1

page_text: upper side of the bottom B, I attach a wicker bed F, which is made of woven cane,
wire or other suitable material. This bed F, is constructed with one of its ends f,
somewhat raised, as shewn in Figure 2, the part f, forming a rest for the head of
the body, thereby raising it sufficiently to cause the fluids of the body to flow
downward towards the lower portions thereof.
This bed F, is attached to B, by longitudinal strips K and wedges upon which
it rests which raise it up sufficiently to admit of a free circulation of the gases used
under it.
Attached to the underside of the bottom B at one end thereof, is a light
bellows J, communicating with the upper side of B, by the opening H, supplied
with a check valve (not shown) of ordinary construction. In lieu of the bellows J,
however any ordinary air pump or other suitable apparatus can be used for forcing
air through the opening H, the object whereof will be hereinafter referred to.
Through the opposite end of the bottom B, I make an escape opening H¹, to
which is securely attached a cock g, from which cock g, extends a flexible pipe or
hose G, for the purpose hereinafter described.
The upper portion of the case A, I construct of rubber cloth or other flexible
gas-tight material, substantially of the shape shewn in Figure 1. Around the
lower edge of A. I attach a light frame C, by means of a gas tight joint as
hereinafter described; through this frame C, are openings for the portions 6¹³, of
the clamps 6, 61, the lower portion of the clamp 61, being securely attached to the
bottom B.
Between the bottom B, and the frame CI place a strip of packing D of rubber
or other suitable material which for convenience can be attached to either the
bottom B or the frame C, as may be desired, so that when the frame C, with the
cover A, attached thereto is placed upon the bottom B as shewn in Figure 1, and
clamped together by means of the clamps b, b¹, or other suitable clamping device a
gas tight joint is formed thereby between B, and C.
In constructing the flexible cover A, if desired, glass or mica panels may be
-inserted therein, in one or more places so that a body enclosed in the case may be
inspected while undergoing treatment without removing the cover A.
In Figure 1, I have shewn one method of supplying gas to the case viz: by
enclosing the generator I in the case with the body to be treated and supplying air
thereto by means of the bellows J, thus generating the necessary gas inside of the
case itself. In Figure 2, however I have shewn a pipe G, so that in case I desire
I can dispense with the generator I inside the case and generate the gas and supply
it to the case through the pipe G, or I may compress the gas into cylinders and
by attaching them to the pipe G, supply the gas to the case in that manner, either
method of supplying the gas to the case operating well. In the Drawing I have
shewn a convenient form and arrangement of the parts of my device but it is
obvious to those skilled in the art to which my Invention appertains that both the
form and arrangement of the parts of my Invention can be varied and equally good
results attained, therefore I do not desire to confine myself to the exact form and
arrangement of parts shown.
In operating my improved apparatus I remove the flexible cover A, from the
bottom B, and place the body to be treated upon the wicker bed F, with the head
resting upon the part f, thereof. I then place the gas generator I, properly charged
upon the bottom B, preferably at the feet of the body, after which I replace the
flexible cover A, over the body and generator and clamp the frame C, thereof to
the bottom B, upon the packing D, so as to make the joint between B and C
gas-tight. I then, if desired, pump air into the case by means of the bellows J and
partially or wholly inflate the cover A, as may be desired.
Meanwhile the gas generator I, operating inside the case completely charges the
air therein with the gases used, a moderate pressure being maintained in the case
thereby on and about all portions of the body therein; I then leave the body in
this condition for such time as may be necessary for the gases to produce the
proper effect or until it is necessary to remove the body for burial if desired,

page_text: A few hours is however generally all that is necessary to effectually stay
decomposition and arrest putrefaction.
When I desire to remove the body from the case after treatment I place the end
of the hose G', out of a window or door and open the cock g; I then pump
sufficient air into the case by means of the bellows J, to effectually drive out from
the case all of the gases therein, through the escape pipe G¹, when the cover A, can
be unclamped and removed from over the body which then is in a proper condition
to be preserved for an indefinite length of time without further attention the
operation herein before described having effectually arrested and stayed decomposition
and putrefaction therein.
In the description heretofore given I have described the gas generator as being
enclosed in the case with the body being treated but as I have hereinbefore
mentioned the generator may with equal facility be operated outside the case and
the gases conveyed thereto by means of the pipe G.
I am aware that various devices for preserving have been heretofore constructed
entirely of flexible material and also partly of flexible material therefore I do not
broadly claim a flexible cover but I am not aware of any case in which a flexible
cover clamped to and removeable from other parts of such case has been constructed,
neither am I aware of any such device as I have described for forcing air into and
expelling gases from such case. Neither am I aware of any preserving or embalming
apparatus, which operates in the same manner as mine does or produces similar
results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
1. The combination in a case for enclosing and embalming dead bodies, of a gas
tight bottom B with a flexible gas tight cover A, provided with a frame C, secured
to the lower edge thereof adapted to be clamped to the bottom B, or removed
therefrom, the packing D and the clamps b, b', all operating together substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination in a gas tight case for treating dead bodies of the flexible
cover A the gas tight bottom B, the packing D, the bellows J, the escape cock g,
and escape pipe G³, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination in a case for embalming dead bodies of the following
elements a hottom B, mounted upon the folding legs E E, a flexible gas tight
cover A, arranged to be clamped to the bottom B, and means for supplying gas to
and expelling the same from the said case all arranged and operating substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Doted the 2nd dow of Tulu 1004.