AN IMPROVED COMPOUND OR PRE- PARATION FOR PRESERVING HUMAN AND ANIMAL BODIES AND VEGETABLES AND PARTS THEREOF, AND THE MANNER OF USING THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Theodor Burchardt, of the Firm Carl T. Burchardt,
of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND OR PRE-
PARATION FOR PRESERVING HUMAN AND ANIMAL BODIES AND VEGETABLES AND
PARTS THEREOF, AND THE MANNER OF USING THE SAME." A communication
by Joan Wickersheimer. of Berlin. Prussia, Germany.
Sealed the 14th October 1879, and dated the 21st April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Theodor Burchardt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1879.
CARL THEODOR BURCHARDT, of the Firm Carl T. Burchardt, of Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent.
" AN
IMPROVED COMPOUND OR PREPARATION FOR PRESERVING HUMAN AND ANIMAL
BODIES AND VEGETABLES AND PARTS THEREOF, AND THE MANNER OF USING THE
SAME." A communication by Jean Wickersheimer, of Berlin, Prussia, Germany.
The Invention relates to compounds or preparations used to preserve human and
aniinal bodies and vegetables and parts thereof, and its object is not only to protect
the objects against putrefaction for a very long time, but to preserve also their
natural form and flexibility as well as their colors in perfection.
To prepare the improved compound dissolve first by weight in about the following
proportions:-100 parts of alum, 25 parts of common salt, 12 parts of nitre, 60
parts of potash, and 10 parts of arsenious acid in 3,000 parts of boiling water, let
the solution cool down and settle; afterwards filter it.
The result is a clear, colorless, odorless, and neutral fluid, which has neither an
acid nor an alkaline reaction.
Then take by measure 4 parts of glycerine and 1 part of methyle-alcohol and
mix with the 10 parts of the fluid aforesaid. This mixture is the improved com-
pound for preserving human and animal bodies and vegetables.
To preserve anatomical preparations, to wit, skeletons with natural ligaments,
cancers, beetles, and similar objects to be kept afterwards in a dry state, they are
put in the compound for about 6 to 12 days according to their size and volume,
then removed from the compound and air-dried; after which treatment they are

page_text: ready to be placed in the museum. They remain flexible for years, and can be made
nt any time to produce all the natural movements of the living object.
Hollow or cellular organs, to wit, lungs, bowels, or similar parts are filled with
the compound and put in the same for 6 to 12 days, after which time they are
taken out of the compound, emptied, and air-dried. It may be remarked here that
it is advantageous to inflate such hollow preparations, especially bowels, previous to
the air-drying.
Lizards, snakes, and similar objects, also vegetables, are preserved by keeping
them submerged in the compound, as the main object commonly is the preservation
of their color, otherwise they are air-dried after 6 to 12 days impregnation with
the compound.
To preserve human or animal bodies whether for scientific purposes or for em-
balming the former, the compound is injected by a syringe into an artery, in which
an incision is made to receive the mouth of the syringe. The quantity of compound
to be applied varies from about 14 quarts to 5 quarts and more according to the
volume of the body to be treated. The injection should be made as soon as possible
after death, as it excludes and stops putrefaction, but cannot restore already
destroyed organic formations Bodies treated with my compound will show for
years the flesh, the muscles, the tissues, even the soft parts, perfectly in the same
state as they were in when injected, a very useful Invention for the college and for
the coroner.
In case of embalming, it is advisable to rub the whole corpse on the outside with
the compound after the injection is made, or after the impregnation, if such is
preferred, and to enclose it in an air tight vessel or coffin. Not only the form of
the dead will then be preserved but the epidermis will also retain its natural
color.
I am
aware that single ingredients of the improved compound have been
tried for similar purposes, but all previous attempts have, so far as I am aware,
failed to produce the preservation of the bodies combined with the flexibility and
color of their parts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Carl Theodor Burchardt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st October 1879.
CARL THEODOR BURCHARDT, of the Firm Carl T. Burchardt, of Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Agent.
"AN
IMPROVED COMPOUND OR PREPARATION FOR PRESERVING HUMAN AND ANIMAL
BODIES AND VEGETABLES AND PARTS THEREOF, AND THE MANNER OF USING THE
SAME." A communication by Jean Wickersheimer, of Berlin, Prussia, Germany."
The Invention relates to that class of compounds used to preserve human and
animal bodies and vegetables, and its object is not only to protect these objects
against putrefaction and decay for a very long time, but to preserve also their natural
form and flexibility as well as their colors in perfection.
In carrying out this Invention and preparing the improved compound, dissolve
first (by weight) 100 parts of alum, 25 parts of common salt, 12 parts of nitre, 60
parts of potash, and 10 parts of arsenious acid in 3,000 parts of boiling water; let
the solution cool down and settle; afterwards filter it. The result is a clear,
colorless, odorless, and neutral fluid, which has neither an acid nor an alkaline
reaction.
Then take by measure 4 parts of glycerine and 1 part of methyle-alcohol and mix
with them 10 parts of the fluid aforesaid. This mixture is the improved compound
for preserving human and animal bodies and vegetables.
To preserve anatomical preparations, to wit, skeletons, with natural ligaments,
caucers, beetles, and similar objects to be kept afterwards in a dry state, they are
impregnated with the compound, that is to say, they are put in the compound for
about 6 to 12 days, according to their size and volume; then removed from the
compound and air-dried; after which treatment they are ready to be placed in the
museum. They remain flexible and pliable for years, and can be made at any time
to produce all the natural movements of the living object,
Hollow or cellular organs, to wit, lungs, bowels, or similar parts, are filled with
the compound, and steeped in the same for 6 to 12 days; after which time they are
taken out of the compound, emptied, and air-dried. It may be remarked here that
it is advantageous to inflate such hollow preparations, especially bowels, previous to
the air-drying.
Lizards, snakes, and similar objects, also vegetables, are preserved by keeping
them submerged in the compound, as the main object commonly is the preservation
of their color; otherwise they are air-dried after 6 to 12 days impregnation with
the compound.
To preserve human or animal bodies, whether for scientific purposes, or for
embalming the former, the compound is injected by a syringe into an artery in
which an incision is made to receive the mouth of the syringe. The most con-
venient way to effect this operation, although it may be performed in various other
ways, is to make a small incision in the carotid or main blood vessel on the side of
the neck of the dead body while lying on a table. The mouth piece of a syringe or
of the discharge pipe of a vessel containing the compound is then introduced into
the carotid by the opening already made in a direction from the head of the body
towards its feet. The fluid penetrates every part of the body with the least trouble,
and without deforming it or destroying parts of it. All that is necessary in per-
forming this operation is to fasten the vessel or artery securely to the mouthpiece
after the insertion of the latter, which may be done by the grasp of the fingers, or
by winding a cord or a wire round it. The compound is then injected into the body
by forcing down the piston of the syringe or by opening a stop-cock provided in the
pipe leading from a vessel containing the compound to the mouthpiece, such vessel
being situated at a sufficient height to produce the desired pressure. The quantity

page_text: of compound to be applied varies from about 1 to 5 quarts and more, according to
the volume of the body to be treated. The method of injecting or introducing the
compound is merely of secondary interest and value. The main point is the com-
pound itself. Besides, it is of importance that the injection should be made as soon
as possible after death, as it excludes and stops putrefaction, but cannot restore
already destroyed organic formations. The bodies are kept filled with the com-
pound for a period of from two to six days, according to their volume and the
purposes for which they are afterwards to be used. If they are intended to serve as
experimental objects for the dissecting room, a short time will suffice. For embalming
purposes the compound should be allowed to remain in the body of a full grown man
as long as six days or even more. The superfluous compound is then let out, and
the incision closed by sewing it up. Bodies treated with this compound will show
for years the flesh, the muscles, the tissues, even the soft parts, perfectly in the same
state and as pliable as they were when injected. A very useful Invention for the
college and for the coroner.
In case of embalming it is advisable to rub the whole corpse on the outside with
the compound after the injection is made, or after the inpregnation if such is pre-
ferred, and to enclose it in an air-tight vessel or coffin. Not only the form of the
dead will then be preserved, but the epidermis will also retain its natural color and
softness, and the limbs their pliability. I am aware that single ingredients of the
improved compound have been tried for similar purposes, but all previous attempts
have, so far as I am aware, failed to produce the preservation of the bodies com-
bined with the flexibility and color of their parts.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The compound consisting of the ingredients herein mentioned, combined,
prepared, and used substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The manner or process in which the described compound is used for the
preservation of dead human and animal bodies, and vegetables, and parts thereof,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Theodor Burchardt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
CARL THEODOR BURCHARDT. (L.S.)