Improvements in Apparatus for the Interment, Disinfection, and Decomposition of Corpses, the Leading Away of the Corpse Water from theses ofs Dropsy, the Preservation of Corpses, and for the Unaided Self-release of Apparently Dead Persons on their Recovering Consciousness.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Interment, Disinfection, and
Decomposition of Corpses, the Leading Away of the Corpse
Water from the Corpses of Persons who have Died of Dropsy,
the Preservation of Corpses, and for the Unaided Self-release
of Apparently Dead Persons on their Recovering Consciousness.
I, GUSTAVE SEEGERS, of 36 Wex Strasse, Hamburg, Germany, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The question of the interment and treatment of corpses upon scientific principles
has hitherto received little or no attention. Up to the present day, practically the
same primitive arrangements are in use as have almost universally been employed
for centuries past. The cremation of corpses has met with a considerable amount
of opposition and has found so little acceptance, that its universal adoption is
extremely remote and its employment on any but a very limited scale is out of the
question.
A burial reform which conforms to the spirit of the time and which is not in
opposition to accepted fundamental religious ideas and customs, but which, viewed
from a technical-hygienic, ethical, and aesthetic stand-point, further upholds the
same, is entitled to be regarded as a benefit to mankind.
Considering the matter from the standpoint of technical-hygienics, it is pointed
out that the majority of corpses are interred in the earth, as the expense of a
mausoleum or an accessible vault, place these out of the reach of all but a small
minority of the community. When buried in the earth, the corpses, if not lying in
air-tight coffins, are subjected to the influence of the water penetrating the ground.
The rising of the ground water from any cause, and the rain water penetrating the
ground and joining the ground water, will in case of the water coming in contact
with the corpses, produce bacteria as well as chemical poisons in the water and
render the wells and water supplies situate near to church-yards or cemeteries
liable to contamination.
The pollution of the air in the neighbourhood of cemeteries through the pernicious
effluvia of the corpses, is considered by celebrated hygienists, to constitute an
undeniable evil. This evil shows itself in a fatal manner in cases of persons, who
have died of infectious diseases. Among these diseases may be noted Asiatic-
cholera, black-pox, diphtheria, intestinal typhus, Oriental ulcer-pest, petechial-fever,
scarlet fever, small-pox, yellow fever, and other contagious diseases.
The danger of allowing infectious matters from the corpses of persons who have
died of these or similar diseases to come into contact with the soil and being liable
thence to be transmitted through the ground water to healthy people, is as above
mentioned, under certain circumstances extremely great.
Suitable arrangements by which both a thorough disinfection and a rapid
decomposition of the corpses take place, are very rarely, if ever, to be found in the
wood and metal coffins, now in use for burial purposes.
In dwellings in which persons who have died of contagious diseases lie till buried,
the air frequently becomes by the pernicious effluvia arising from the corpses,
detrimental to health. A transmission of the germs of the diseases to healthy
persons frequently takes place. It may also be mentioned that insects such as flies
having access to such corpses have been known to transmit infectious diseases to
other persons.
In order to render such corpses perfectly harmless, the coffins
intended for their reception must be thoroughly air-tight.

page_text: A burial reform will therefore find an extensive application for hygienic
reasons.
The disinfection and rapid decomposition of the corpses can be effected by the
introduction of suitable substances into the interior of the newly devised apparatus.
In consequence of the air-tight closure of the new apparatus, neither the substances
to be used for the disinfection and decomposition of the corpses, nor the corpses
themselves, can in any way have any deleterious influence on the ground water.
Celebrated hygienists have often expressed their opinion, that the principal point
to be attained as regards hygiene in reference to the burial of corpses, consists
in the speediest decomposition of the corpses into their simplest innocuous
constituents.
This can only be effected by the prevention of the putrefaction of the corpses,
owing to damp or water of the soil gaining access to the corpse, so that in place of
the putrefaction, a speedy corruption or decay of the corpses takes place.
It is therefore necessary for hygienic reasons that the corpses should be buried in
air-tight closable coffins.
Through the putrefaction of the corpses, certain complicated chemical com-
binations take place, which exercise a deleterious influence on their surroundings,
whilst through the corruption or decay of the corpses, the contrary takes place and
results in a decomposition into the simplest innocuous constituents.
It is well-known that in the case of persons who have died from dropsy, the
corpse-water flows soon after death from the bodies. There are at present_no
means for leading away this water from the ordinary coffins now in use.
hygienic reasons it is very necessary that this should be provided for.
For
If it is desired to preserve the corpses instead of decomposing them the corpses
can first be suitably treated in any ordinary manner. A common and approved
method observed in the preservation of corpses is effected by an injection of certain
substances, dissolved in distilled water, under pressure, by means of an irrigator
into the jugular vein (carotis comm) in the neck, leading to the heart. The
preservation of corpses by this method is however only imperfectly attained in
consequence of the employment of the coffins now in use, as the preserved
corpses begin to get very mouldy after a short time. This is due to the entrance
of air to the coffins.
By using the air-tight coffins, the subject of this invention, this danger is obviated
and the risk of the corpses becoming mouldy is avoided.
From an aesthetical point of view the advantages are considerable as the feelings
of mourners and relatives are saved from shock likely to be incurred through
the knowledge that the dead are deposited in unsightly coffins into which water and
vermin have access.
The fact may further be mentioned, that under the old system a certain danger
exists of burying alive persons in a state of coma. By the employment of the
apparatus, the subject of this invention, an escape from the coffin by an apparently
dead person on recovering consciousness, is quite possible.
The present invention provides improvements in all the points above mentioned.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, viz. :-
Figs. 1 to 8 show the newly devised burial apparatus in two of its simple forms
of constructions.
Figs. 9 to 20 show three forms of construction adapted for the burial of persons
who have died of dropsy.
Figs. 21 to 32 show three forms of construction which enable persons being
apparently dead to release themselves unaided on recovering consciousness.
Figs. 33 to 36 show four further forms of construction which likewise render
the unaided escape of persons being asphyxiated, on their recovering consciousness.
Fig. 37 shows a form of construction of a lock-bolt arrangement.
Figs. 38 to 45 show three forms of construction of armature parts to be more
particularly described.

page_text: Figs. 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25 and 29 are vertical longitudinal sections
(Figs. 1, 5 and 9 being partial views).
Figs. 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 and 30 are corresponding plan-views and horizontal
longitudinal sections (Fig. 2 is a partial view).
Fig. 11 is a corresponding end view.
Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 31 and 32 are corresponding
vertical sections (Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 15 being partial views).
Figs. 33, 34, 35 and 36 are corresponding vertical longitudinal sections.
The inventor selects for the new burial apparatus either a cylindrically or
prismatically formed casing a of metal, wood or other suitable material, which
casing a is provided with an air-tight closable flange at each end. A rail C.
made of tee or angle iron or other suitable material is fixed on the two sides in the
interior of the casing a. The casing a. rests upon two stands d. fastened to the
said casing from the inside by bolts and nuts or by any suitable means.
The two stands d. may be replaced, if desired, by four suitable feet or legs
attached in any convenient manner.
The hand-rods e. made of metal-tubing or other suitable material, and provided
with supports, are likewise fastened from the inside of the casing a. by bolts and
nuts, or by any suitable means. These rods are placed either in a horizontal
position along the sides of the casing a. or in a circular position around the same.
In the interior of the casing a. a tray f. is placed, which is provided at each end
with either a flat or bowed wall. This tray f. (on which the corpse or apparently
dead person will be placed) has on each of its two outer sides a rim g.
These two
rims g. may be replaced by two bearers g. made of tee or angle iron or any
suitable material, provided with rollers or casters. The two rims g. can also be
replaced by two bearers g. made of fancy or figured iron or other suitable material.
The tray f. may be provided with four feet fastened from the inside to the outside
bottom of the tray f. by bolts and nuts or other suitable means.
The four feet h. which may be constructed in any convenient form will as a rule
be replaced by two movable stands preferably in the form of those marked d.
fastened in any convenient way to the casing a. and upon which the tray f. lies
when holding the corpse, or when the corpse is placed on a bier.
The two rims g. or bearers g. of the tray f. may be provided with suitable holes
or sockets for the purpose of receiving candle-holders or candles to illuminate the
corpse whilst it is being placed on the bier.
At the bottom end of the tray f. outside on its wall, there is a bolt i. in horizontal
position, which at its extreme free outer end is provided with a thread.
At the top
end of the tray f. outside on its wall, there is also a bolt k. in horizontal position,
which is likewise at its extreme free outer-end provided with a thread, which bolt k
may however have a different form from the bolt i. and which may be also replaced
by a connecting bolt t.
The inner ends of the two bolts i. and k. may be connected with the tray f. in
various ways, but preferably in one of the three following manners :-
Firstly. In such a way that the bolt i ork. which being provided with a
thread on the outside at its inner-end, is screwed horizontally into an interiorly
threaded socket or nut affixed on the outside to both or to one of the two walls
of the tray f. as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. by the two bolts i and k. and
also in Figs. 21, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30, 33 and 35 by the bolt i.
Secondly. By the formation of the bolt i. or k. on the outside at its inner end as
a square, having a half-round head on the extreme square end, which bolt is
pushed horizontally from the inside of the tray f. through a correspondingly
large square opening, formed for the purpose in both or in only one as desired
of the two walls of the tray f. as shown in Figs. 9, 10, 13 and 14 by the
bolts . and k.
Thirdly. In such a way that the bolt i. or k on the outside of its inner end is
formed as a square, having a thread projecting, which bolt is likewise pushed

page_text: horizontally from the inside of the tray f. through a correspondingly large square
opening, formed for the purpose in either both or in only one of the two walls of
the tray f.
The exteriorly threaded inner end of the bolt i or k. is fastened from the inside
at the foot end or head end of the tray f. by means of an interiorly threaded cap,
in form of a ball, hand-wheel, or plug, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18 by the bolts i.
and k. and also in Figs. 34 and 36 by the bolt.
The casing a. is to be closed at its two open ends by means of two air-tight
closing plates, which may be made in any convenient shape. At one end of the
casing a. preferably at the foot end the air-tight closing plate may be permanently
fixed.
•
On the outside about from 1 to 1 inches from the edge of each of the two
closing plates l. according to the size, an air-tight closable flange m. being affixed,
which fits exactly to the air-tight closable flange b. affixed at each end of the
casing a. Near to the flange m. of the closing plate 7. being situated the mentioned
margin of to 1½ inches wide, which outer diameter is exactly of the same
dimension as the inner diameter of the cylindrically formed casing a. By placing
the two closing plates 1. on to the casing a. their before mentioned two margins are
inserted into the two open ends of the casing a. and then the air-tight closable
flanges b. and m. lie opposite to each other at each end of the casing a, as shown
in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 33 to 36.
Outside in the middle of each of the two closing plates 1. is affixed an air-tight
closable flange n, which has in its centre a smooth round hole, which is so
arranged that the exteriorly threaded outer end of the bolt i or k, or the exteriorly
threaded outer end of the connecting bolt t. will fit closely into it. To each of
these exteriorly threaded outer ends of the bolt i. or k. or of the connecting bolt t.
projecting horizontally from the middle of the two closing plates 1. an interiorly
threaded cap o. provided with an air-tight closable flange, which has in its centre
likewise a smooth round hole, is screwed on to it.
The air-tight closable flange of the cap o, fits exactly to the air-tight closable
flange n. of the closing plate 1.
The cap o. can be made in form of a ball, crown, hand-wheel, nut, plug, or of any
suitable shape, provided with an interior thread and on the outside at the bottom,
with a correspondingly large air-tight closable flange with a smooth round hole
in its centre, to fit to the air-tight closable flange n. of the mentioned closing
plate . as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 29 30
and 33 to 36.
Upon the top of the casing a, above the face of the corpse lying in the tray f.
below, a hermetically sealed and framed glass plate q. in the form of a compass box
for looking at the corpse, may be fixed.
On apparatus designed for the burial of persons who have died of dropsy, an
air-tight closable water valve p. which will be more particularly described, is fixed
at the outside on the bottom of the casing a. for the purpose of leading away the
corpse watar.
On apparatus intended for persons who may be only apparently dead, an
observation arrangement r, which consists of an air-tight closable box r. fixed on
the top of the casing a. above the face of the apparently dead person.
The top
part of the observation arrangement r. consists of a glass plate, which is
hermetically fixed, whilst on the two sides and on the front end of the
observation arrangement r. an air tight closable ventilator is placed. The box r.
has openings in each side and in its front end, which openings can be hermetically
closed from the outside by means of a metal sliding plate, placed at each of the
two sides and at the front end of the box r. Each of these three sliding plates
being framed and provided with a handle or knob.
The plates slide in metal rails, fastened on the top and bottom of the two sides
and front end of the box r. Each sliding plate has correspondingly large openings

page_text: like those in the sides and end of the box r. whilst the covering parts of the sliding
plates are somewhat larger than the openings in the sides and end of the box r. in
order to obtain an air tight closing.
The handle or knob fastened to each of three sliding plates of the box r, are for
the purpose of moving the plate backward or forward. In the case of apparatus
provided with the before mentioned observation arrangement, an air tight closable'
air-delivering valve s. which will be more particularly described, is fastened at the
outside on the bottom of the casing a.
At each side of the tray f. suitable straps are affixed, provided with buckles or
similar fastenings, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, 14, 22, 26 and 30. The straps are for
the purpose of securing the corpse, so that during its conveyance, especially in
carrying the apparatus downstairs in dwelling houses, the original position of the
corpse is not liable to be changed. The straps may be replaced by suitable cords
or by any convenient arrangement of straps, running cross-ways and bound together
at the foot end and head end of the tray f
These newly devised burial apparatus contain ample room in the interior.
The apparatus are made wholly or partly of hard rolled aluminium plates,
aluminium bronze plates, brass or copper sheets, brass or copper plated sheet-iron,
galvanized or enamelled sheet-iron, hard roller German silver or nickel sheets,
German silver plated or nickel plated sheet-iron, sheet-iron, steel sheets, tin plates,
tinned sheet-iron, zinc sheets, porcelain, glazed stone, composition, or of any other
suitable material. The tray f. may be constructed of any suitable material, but
preferably of glazed stone, china or porcelain.
These new burial apparatus are in consequence of their peculiar construction
considerably lighter than the ordinary coffins now in use, and can therefore be
carried with greater ease.
The smooth exterior surface of the casing a is pre-
eminently suitable for paintings and inscriptions, whilst the circular form of the
hand-rods around the casing serve also for the decorative fastenings of flowers
and wreaths.
The apparatus offer also great advantages in the exhuming of corpses, as is
sometimes necessary and any examination into the cause of death of the deceased
person after burial can be carried out more satisfactorily by reason of the air-tight
apparatus keeping the corpse from contact with the soil or other matter.
On excavating the coffins at later periods, after the expiration of the lawfully
prescribed time, it is advantageous and satisfactory to know that by the employment
of this burial apparatus, the decomposition of the corpse has taken place within an
air-tight casing and that in consequence thereof the soil has in no way been
contaminated.
Figs. 1 to 4 show an apparatus made of hard rolled metal sheets with the hand
rods e. in a horizontal position on both sides of the casing a.
The moving of the tray f. is effected by means of suitable rollers or casters
affixed to each of the two bearers g. which are lying on the exterior sides of the
tray f
The air tight closure of the casing a. by means of the two air tight closing
plates 1. is effected as before described.
Figs. 5 to 8 show an apparatus, in which the casing a. is constructed of wood and
is prismatically formed, and with the rods e placed in a circular position around
the casing a.
The moving of the tray f. is effected by means of the two rims g.
which are lying on the exterior sides of the tray f, which two rims g. are provided
at each end with a ball as ornament.
The tray f. is provided with four feet h. in the form of balls and fastened from'
the inside by bolts and nuts.
The air-tight closure of the casing a. by means of the two air-tight closing
plates 1. is effected in this form of construction, in which a prismatically formed
wood casing
a. is used in such a way that first there will be fastened on to the two
cross-cut ends of the prismatically formed sides of the casing a. chiefly to cover the
cross-grain of the wood, a flat polygon constructed of wood and placed lengthwise

page_text: of the grain. The outer side of the polygon being likewise of a prismatical form,
whilst the inner side is round. This wooden ring is fastened to each end of the
prismatical wood casing a. for the purpose of placing a flat iron ring by means of
sunk wood screws on to it, which smooth, flat iron ring forms the air-tight closable
flange . of the prismatical wood casing a. against which flange b. the air-tight
closable flange m. of the closing plate 1. lies.
Figs. 9 to 20 show three forms of construction of this apparatus, made wholly of
iron and designed for the burial of persons who have died of dropsy. The rods e.
in Figs. 9 to 12 and Figs. 17 to 20 are placed in a circular position around the
casing a; in Figs. 13 to 16 in a horizontal position on both sides of the casing a.
The moving of the tray f. is effected in Figs. 9 to 12 by the rollers, which are
fastened to the two bearers g. lying on the exterior sides of the tray; in Figs. 13
to 16 by the two rims g. lying on the exterior sides of the tray: in Figs. 17 to 20
by the two bearers g. are made of figured iron and lying likewise on the exterior
sides of the tray f
The air-tight closure of the cylindrical casing a. is effected by means of the two
closing plates 1. as before described.
In these three apparatus the sides and bottom of the tray f. are made sieve-like
or are perforated. By the sieve-like construction in metal, the parts of the iron
framing are, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, 17 and 18, provided with holes in order to
lessen the weight. The object of perforating the tray f. is to allow the water
issuing from the corpse, to run off immediately and to collect in the bottom of the
casing a, so that the corpse may lie perfectly dry in the tray. The removal of such
collected water from the bottom of the casing a. is accomplished by means of a
water-valve p. closing air-tight, and fastened on the bottom of the exterior of the
casing a. This water-valve p. is shown in detail in Fig. 38 in vertical section and
in Fig. 39 in horizontal section. It consists of a screw-down-valve of an inner and
an outer part, operated by a hand-wheel, on the bottom of the cylindrical inner
part, which inner part is open at the bottom and closed at the top and provided
with lateral openings to admit the passage of the corpse-water. The bell-shaped
inner part is threaded exteriorly and its smooth air-tight closable top is fitted with
a washer of india rubber, leather, or any suitable material. The cylindrically
formed outer part, which is likewise open at the bottom and interiorly threaded is
fixed to the bottom of the casing o. In the interior of this outer part there is an
opening in the centre at the top to allow the passage of the corpse-water. This
top-opening is surrounded by an air-tight closable surface, against which the
smooth air-tight closable top of the inner part lies, when the valve p. is hermetically
closed by means of the above mentioned hand-wheel.
The construction of this water-valve p. renders it unnecessary for the hands of
the person opening the valve p. to conie in contact with the corpse-water. The
before mentioned hermetically framed glass plate q. for the purpose of viewing the
corpse, may, if desired, be attached on the top of the casing a. These three
apparatus may also be used for the interment of persons, whose deaths have not
resulted from dropsy, and may be used for corpses, which are to be disinfected or
rapidly decomposed as well as for corpses, which are to be preserved. The sieve-
like or perforated sides and bottom of the tray f. are essentially favourable to these
objects. In these cases the water-valve and also the before mentioned glass plate
for observation may be dispensed with.
Figs. 21 to 36 show seven forms of this apparatus made wholly of metal and
designed to enable apparently dead persons on recovering consciousness to release
themselves unaided.
The rods e. in Figs. 21 to 24 and Figs. 29 to 36 are placed in a circular position
around the casing a. In Figs. 25 to 28 in a horizontal position on both sides of the
casing a. The moving of the tray f. is effected in Figs. 21 to 24 by the two rims g.
lying on the exterior sides of the tray f. In Figs. 25 to 28 by the rollers, which
are fastened to the two bearers g. lying on the exterior sides of the tray f. In

page_text: Figs. 29 to 32 by the two bearers g. made of figured iron and lying likewise on the
exterior sides of the tray f
The air-tight closure of the casing a. is effected by means of the two air-tight
closable closing plates 1. as before described.
These seven forms of apparatus are designed with an arrangement for enabling a
person, only apparently dead, to breathe on awaking. There is a continuous
circulation of air in the interior of the apparatus, which is effected on the one band
by the already mentioned observation arrangement r. which has on its two sides
and front-end an adjustable ventilator, and on the other hand by an air-delivery-
valve s. fastened on the outside of the bottom of the casing a, which air-valve acts
as a counter-draught.
The air-tight closable observation arrangement 7. is shown in detail in Figs. 40
to 43, viz. Fig. 40 is one of the two side views, Fig. 41 is the plan-view, showing
the top-glass plate, Fig. 42. is the front view, Fig. 43 is the back view. The air
tight closable air-delivering-valve s. is shown in detail in Figs. 44 and 45, viz. :
Fig. 44 is the vertical section and Fig. 45 the horizontal section.
This air-delivering-valve s. consists of an inner and an outer part, operated by a
hand-wheel, fixed on the bottom of the cylindrical outer part, which is closed at
the bottom and open at the top, and provided with an air-tight closable flange.
This outer part is interiorly threaded and screwed on to the inner part, which is
exteriorly threaded. The inner part is provided with lateral openings to admit the
air into the casing a. This inner part being fastened to the bottom of the casing a.
and provided with an air-tight closable flange on its outside, which closes against
the air-tight closable flange of the outer part.
These apparatus are further provided with various arrangements to enable a
supposed dead person on the tray f, to re-open from the inside the apparatus with
ease and unaided on recovering consciousness.
In Figs. 21 to 37 eight of these different re-opening arrangements are
shown, viz.:
In Figs. 21 to 24 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by
taking out a pin provided with a handle, which pin passes vertically through a
round hole of the inner unthreaded end of the connecting bolt t, which bolt t. is
resting horizontally in a smooth, unthreaded socket and which socket is fixed on to
the outside of the wall at the head-end of the tray f. This pin also passes
vertically through the unthreaded socket, which has a correspondingly large hole.
In Figs. 25 to 28 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by
raising a hook, formed of the horizontal connecting-bolt t, which bolt t, is provided
with a hinge.
The staple for the reception of the hook is affixed on the outside of
the wall at the head-end of the tray f.
In Figs. 29 to 32 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by
the left-hand turning of the horizontal connecting bolt t. by means of a handle or
hand wheel attached thereto. By this means the connecting bolt t. is screwed out
of an interiorly threaded socket, which is fixed to the outer side of the wall at the
head-end of the tray.
In Fig. 33 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by drawing
back two round shaped bolts, which are attached to the outer side of the wall at
the head-end of the tray. These two bolts pass horizontally through a corre-
spondingly large round opening, situated at the inner end of the connecting bolt t.
and clasp into each other.
In Fig. 34 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by screwing
off an interiorly threaded socket provided with a handle or hand-wheel, which
socket being screwed on from the inside of the tray f. to the exteriorly threaded
inner end of the connecting bolt t. projecting horizontally through an opening of
the wall at the head-end of the tray f. This inner end of the connecting bolt t. is
provided with a square, which square rests in a correspondingly large square
opening situated in the wall at the head-end of the tray f. so that the connecting
bolt t. is prevented from turning.

page_text: In Fig. 35 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by screwing
back an interiorly threaded socket from a horizontally placed union-coupling,
which socket keeps together the two parts of which the exteriorly threaded
connecting bolt t. consists. The interiorly threaded socket, being situated on the
union-coupling of the connecting bolt t, is provided with a handle or hand-wheel.
This connecting bolt t. has at its inner unthreaded end a half round head and is
further provided with a square, which square rests in a correspondingly large
square opening being situated in the wall at the head-end of the tray f. so that the
connecting bolt t. is prevented from turning.
In Fig. 36 the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside is effected by taking
out a pin provided with a handle, from the inside of the tray f, which pin passes
vertically through a round hole situated in the unthreaded inner end of the
connecting bolt t. projecting horizontally through an opening in the wall at the
head-end of the tray f.
The connecting bolt t. is prevented from turning by two cheek-pieces, affixed on
to the inner side of the wall at the head-end of the tray f, between which cheek-
pieces the end of the vertically placed pin rests.
Fig. 37 shows another mode of re-opening the apparatus from the inside, which
is effected by drawing back two bolts which are fastened by means of a plate on to
the outside of the wall at the head-end of the tray f. and which two bolts clasp
over a square flange fixed on to the extreme inner end of the horizontal connecting
bolt t.
By means of one or more cheek pieces affixed on to the outside of the wall
at the head-end of the tray f, around the square flange of the connecting bolt t, the
latter is prevented from turning.
These various arrangements for the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside
are, as already stated, situated on the wall at the head-end of the tray f.
The same arrangements, however, may, if desired, be placed on the wall at the
foot-end of the tray f, in which case the bolt i. would be used instead of the
connecting bolt t. or if convenient the arrangements may be placed at both ends of
the tray.
The employment of these apparatus for the interment of persons whose deaths
cannot be confirmed with certainty by the physicians, may be conveniently effected
by laying the asphyxiated or apparently dead person into the tray 7. of the
apparatus (which is then closed in the manner before described) and keeping the
same for observation at the dwelling or in the chapel, or any convenient place,
whilst in those cases in which death has been established by the physicians, but is
considered doubtful by the relatives, the person in question is laid in the tray of
the apparatus, which is then closed and placed in a mausoleum or in an accessible
vault, in order to enable a supposed dead person on recovering consciousness to
re-open the apparatus easily from the inside. Under both these circumstances the
ventilator placed in the observation arrangement r, as well as the air-delivery
valve s. must of course be open in order to obtain the continuous circulation of the
air in the apparatus.
The apparatus as shown in Figs. 21 to 36 may also be employed for the burial of
persons being really dead. In this case the observation arrangement r. shown in
Figs. 40 to 43 and the air-delivery valve s, shown in Figs. 44 and 45 as well as the
arrangements for the re-opening of the apparatus from the inside described
in I to VIII may all be dispensed with. In the latter case the connecting bolt t.
would be replaced by the bolt k. as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17,
and 18. The already mentioned hermetically framed glass plate q. in form of a
compass-casing for viewing the corpse, may if desired, in this case be substituted
for the observation arrangement r.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The apparatus as herein described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 45, with the

page_text: arrangements designed for the disinfection and decomposition of corpses, for the
leading away of the corpse-water from corpses of persons who have died of dropsy,
for the preservation of corpses, and for the unaided self-release of apparently dead
persons on recovering consciousness, substantially as described.
2. The apparatus as herein described and illustrated in Figures 9 to 20, especially
designed for the burial of persons who have died of dropsy, substantially as
described.
3. The apparatus as herein described and illustrated in Figures 21 to 36
especially designed for the unaided self-release of apparently dead persons on
recovering consciousness, substantially as described.
4. The devices herein described and illustrated in Figures 21 to 37 for the
re-opening of the apparatus from the inside.
5. The air-tight closable water valve p. in conjunction with the apparatus as
herein described and illustrated in Figures 38 and 39.
6. The air-tight closable observation arrangement r. in conjunction with the
apparatus as herein described and illustrated in Figures 40 to 43.
7. The air-tight closable air-delivery valve s. in conjunction with the apparatus
as herein described and illustrated in Figures 44 and 45.
8. The circularly formed hand-rods e. in conjunction with the apparatus as herein.
described and illustrated in Figures 5 to 12, 17 to 24 and 29 to 36.
Dated this 5th day of September 1894.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.