Year: 1889

page_text: I, EDWARD HODGE HORSEY of Palmer House in the City of Chicago in the County
of Cook and State of Illinois. United States of America Physician and Surgeon, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 the art of embalming.
The object of my invention is to provide a conveniently portable embalming
apparatus which may be packed in a small space, so that it may be used on ship board
as well as on land, and which may be used without in any way disfiguring or
mutilating the body.
My invention consists primarily in a flexible air and liquid tight embalming sack,
preferably made of rubber. rubber cloth, tarpaulin cloth, or other suitable impervious
cloth, and having a mouth or opening through which the body to be embalmed may
be carried into the sack on a suitable truck for supporting it. The mouth or opening
of the sack through which the body is inserted is furnished with set-screws and
clamping jaws to close it air tight after the body is placed in the sack. The sack is
furnished at its opposite end with a nozzle or orifice adapted to be connected with an
air pump for exhausting or partially exhausting the air from the embalming sack so
as to form a partial vacuum therein. After the air has been partially pumped out of
the embalming sack, the nozzle of the sack is connected to a vessel containing the
embalming vapor or gas in a compressed form.
The body supporting carriage not only serves to roll or convey the body into the
flexible embalming sack, but to support the same near the longitudinal center of
the sack during the embalming operation, and thus prevent the body from lying upon
or coming in contact with the flexible sack, so that the embalming vapor or gas may
act equally upon the whole surface of the body. To prevent the flexible embalming sack
from coming in contact with the surface of the body when the air is being pumped
out of the sack, I provide the sack with light hoops, springs or distending devices,
preferably on the interior thereof. And for the same purpose also and ensure
against any possible inutilation or discoloration of the face by contact with the
rubber or flexible sack, I provide a face mask. This face mask may be attached
to the body, but it is preferably attached to the truck and supported thereby over

page_text: the face. The truck or body supporting device is made, or preferably made, in
hinged sections so it may be folded into a compact space. It is provided, or
preferably provided, with wheels, and they should be of rubber, or furnished with
rubber tires, to prevent danger of cutting or injuring the sack as the truck is
rolled into the same. The springs or sack distending devices before mentioned serve
not only to prevent the collapse of the sack against the body when the air is
exhausted but also to hold the sack. distended while the body truck is being rolled
or inserted therein. The embalming vapor or gas employed may be a simple
article of commerce and manufactured commercially or it may be made by the
undertaker at his place of business, and then it is carried in a highly compressed form
in a suitable gas holder or vessel to the house or place where the embalming is to be
done. The gas holder or vessel containing the embalming vapor may be readily
connected to the embalming sack after the body has been inserted therein, the sack
closed air tight and the air exhausted therefrom. A sufficient quantity of vapor or
gas for embalming one body may be compressed into an ordinary gas holder or vessel
of one or two gallons capacity.
After the embalming vapor or gas has been discharged into the embalming sack,
under pressure, according to my invention, the pressure of the gas or vapor causes it
readily to penetrate into and through the tissues of the body. The previous exhaustion
of the air from the embalming sack and from the body contained therein by means of
the air pump, greatly facilitates the subsequent penetrating of the embalming vapors
or gases into and through the tissues of the body. To facilitate the partial exhaustion
of air from the body as well as the penetration of the embalming vapors or gases into
the body, I insert elastic esophageal and rectal tubes.
In cases where it is desired to hasten the embalming process and complete the
operation in a short time, weights may be placed upon the flexible embalming sack
and thus increase the pressure of the vapor or gas and facilitate its penetration into
and through the tissues."
In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in
which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an
apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 s'ows the compressed embalming gas or
vapor holder Fig. 3 is a plan view of the flexible embalming sack; Fig. 4 is an
enlarged longitudinal vertical section showing the sack connected with the gas or
vapor holder. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the clamp or device for
closing the mouth of the sack through which the body is inserted; Fig. 6 is a plan
view of the same; Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section through one of the clamp
screws Fig. 8 is a plan view of the body truck or carriage; Fig. 9 is a detail view
of one of the sack distending springs or hoops; and Fig. 10 is an elevation of the sack
showing weights placed thereon to increase the pressure of the embalming vapor or
gas therein. Fig. 11 shows the disk or funnel for closing the mouth around the
esophageal tube.
In the drawing A represents the flexible embalming sack, preferably of rubber or
rubber cloth, B the truck for supporting the body therein during the embalming
operation, the air pump and D the compressed embalming gas or vapor holder.
The flexible sack A has a large mouth or opening a at one end, through which the
body on the body truck may be rolled or inserted. This mouth or opening is closed
air tight by clamps a' a, and clamp screws a³. The clamps a¹ a² may, if desired, be
hinged or jointed together at their ends, as shown at a. The lips or edges as a of
the rubber sack at the mouth thereof may preferably be formed with a rib and
groove a where they are clamped together by the screws a³ so as to form a more
perfect joint. At or near the opposite end, the sack A is furnished with a pipe or
nozzle F, having a coupling by which it is adapted to be connected with the pipe c
of the air pump C, and with the pipe or nozzle d'of the gas holder D. The nozzle F
is further provided with a cock or valve f¹ for closing the same. The gas or vapor
holder D is also furnished with a cock or valve d. The body truck B is preferably
made in three folding sections connected together by hinges 6 and by hooks or
devices 6¹ for rendering the joints rigid so as to properly support the body. The

page_text: wheels 13 of the truck are furnished with rubber tires D, so that the wheels
will not cut or injure the flexible sack A when the body truck is being rolled
into the sack. The truck B is further provided with a face mask G to protect
the face from contact with the flexible sack A. This mask should be removably
attached to the truck so that it may be put in place after the body is on the
truck. The truck is further provided at intervals with straps b² for securing the
body thereto, and with a neck or head rest at 63. H H are the hoops, preferably
made of spring or flexible material for holding the sack distended.
The ends of
the hoop are, preferably, connected together by a loop h and set screw ', so that
the hoop may be readily adjusted to different diameters, as may be required to
properly distend the sack for the reception of bodies of different sizes. The hoops H
are placed loosely in the sack and may be removed when desired.
The truck is an open frame work, having just enough cross pieces to properly
support the body, so that the embalming gas or vapor may have access to the whole
surface of the body. The wheels B₁ of the truck serve to support the body in the sack
at a distance above the bottom of the sack as the apparatus rests upon the floor or
platform, so that the embalming gas or vapor may have access beneath the body.
The diameter of the wheels should preferably be, in practice, about six inches, though
their dimensions may be varied.
When not in use the whole apparatus may be folded very compactly, the sections
of the truck when folded together may be inserted in the flexible sack and then the
flexible sack doubled or folded around the same.
The whole apparatus is thus not only very compact but it is light, and may be
readily carried by a single person.
K represents the end of the esophageal tube projecting from the mouth. This
should preferably be about one-half inch in diameter. The tube K has a coupling k
by which it may be connected with the nozzle of a gas holder and the gas thus
forcibly injected into the interior of the abdominal cavity. This may be done, if
desired, after the body is removed from the sack.
For use at sea the embalming sack should be made of stronger and heavier material,
so that it may serve as a casket for containing the body until the ship arrives at port.
The sack may be provided with handles for convenience in handling when containing
the body. The weight before referred to for increasing the pressure of the gas or
vapor, is indicated in Fig. 10, at N.
In Fig. 11 the esophageal tube K is shown as provided with a conical shaped
flange, disk, or funnel k, for closing the mouth and nostrils when the gas hoider is
connected with the tube K for injecting the gas into the abdominal cavity. A
clamp k may he employed for holding the rubber funnel or disk in place.
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
Ist. The portable folding embalming apparatus consisting in the combination with
a flexible foldable air tight sack having a mouth or opening through which the body
may be inserted into the sack and means for closing such opening air tight, of a
foldable wheeled frame or truck for supporting the body near the longitudinal center
or axis of said sack so that the preserving gases may have access all around the body
and whereby the body may be rolled in and out of the sack, the wheels of said truck
being furnished with yielding tires or treads to prevent injury to the sack, and said
sack being provided with a pipe and valve for connecting the same with a portable
embalming gas holder, substantially as specified.
2nd. The portable folding embalming apparatus consisting in the combination with
a flexible foldable air tight sack having a mouth or opening through which the body
may be inserted into the sack and means for closing such opening air tight, of a
foldable wheeled frame or truck for supporting the body near the longitudinal center
or axis of said sack so that the preserving gases may have access all around the body
and whereby the body may be rolled in and out of the sack, the wheels of said truck

page_text: being furnished with yielding tires or treads to prevent injury to the sack, and said
sack being provided with a pipe and valve for connecting the same with a portabile
embalming gas bolder, and hoops for holding the sack distended as the body is rolled
out of the sack on said truck, substantially as specified.
3rd. The portable folding embalming apparatus consisting in the combination with a
flexible foldable air tight sack having a mouth or opening through which the body
may be inserted in the sack and means for closing such opening air tight, of a
foldable wheeled frame or truck for supporting the body near the longitudinal center
or axis of said sack so that the preserving gases may have access all around the body
and whereby the body may be rolled in and out of the sack, the wheels of said truck
being furnished with yielding tires or treads to prevent injury to the sack, and said
sack being provided with a pipe and valve for connecting the same with a portable
preserving gas holder, and hoops for holding said sack distended as the body is rolled
out of the sack on said truck, and a face mask to prevent the sack marring-the face as
the air is extracted therefrom, substantially as specified.
4th. The combination with a flexible embalming sack having a mouth or opening
for the insertion of the body and a nozzle F of a wheeled truck B for supporting the
body and rolling the same into the sack, substantially as specified.
5th. The combination with a flexible embalming sack having a mouth or opening
for the insertion of the body and a-nozzle F, of a wheeled truck B for supporting the
body and rolling the same into said sack, and a compressed embalming gas or
vapor holder D, having a nozzle d, and a coupling for connecting the same with
the nozzle F of said embalming sack, and cocks or valves f', d', substantially as
specified.
6th. The portable embalming apparatus consisting in the combination with a
closed vessel for containing the body and holding an embalming gas under pressure,
a portable frame for supporting the body in said vessel, and an esophageal tube,
whereby the preserving gas is caused to act both from the inside and outside the
body, substantially as specified.
7th. The portable folding embalming apparatus consisting in the combination with
a flexible foldable air tight sack having a mouth or opening through which the
body may he inserted and furnished with screw clamps for closing said opening
air tight, of a foldable wheeled frame or truck for supporting the body in said sack
and rolling it in and out of the same, substantially as specified.
8th. The portable folding embalming apparatus consisting in the combination with
a flexible foldable air tight sack having a mouth or opening through which the body
may be inserted and furnished with screw clamps for closing said opening air tight,
of a foldable wheeled frame or truck for supporting the body in said sack and rolling
it in and out of the same, said foldable truck having hinged sections furnished with
hooks for rendering the joints or hinges rigid, substantially as specified.
9th. The portable folding embalming apparatus consisting the combination with a
flexible foldable air tight sack having a mouth or opening through which the body
may be inserted and furnished with screw clamps for closing said opening air tight,
of a foldable wheeled frame or truck for supporting the body in said sack and rolling
it in and out of the same, said foldable truck having hinged sections furnished with
hooks for rendering the joints or hinges rigid, and straps for securing the body to
said truck, substantially as specified.
Chisens TI
TT S A
M1 DAIL 1001
EDWARD HODGE HORSEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.