EMBALKING AND MUMMYFYING DEAD BODIES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Audigier, Chymist, living at No. 63,
Rue Grignan, Marseilles, in the Empire of France, for the Invention of
"EMBALKING AND MUMMYFYING DEAD BODIES."
Sealed the 7th October 1864, and dated the 18th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Audigier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th April 1864.
I, AUGUSTE AUDIGIER, Chymist, living at No. 63, Rue Grignan, Mar-
seilles, in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "EMBALMING AND MUMMYFYING DEAD BODIES," to be as
follows:-
My embalming process consists, firstly, in the preparation and application
of a product composed of wood in powder, nitric acid, marine or bay salt,
and of essence of two qualities. Secondly, in the preparation and application
of a special liquid for the mouth, composed of nitric acid saturated with bay
salt and crystallized sulphate of zinc. The body may be embalmed with its

page_text: clothing, and the mummyfication takes place in less than twelve months.
The coffin should be leaded; the mummyfication may, nevertheless, be obtained
without the aid of a leaden coffin. All movements or shocks likely to separate
the product of the body should be avoided, and the coffin be as little exposed
to humidity as possible.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Auguste Audigier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTE
AUDIGIER, Chymist, living at Number 63, Rue Grignan, Marseilles, in the
Empire of France, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Auguste Audigier, Her special licence that I, the said Auguste
Audigier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Auguste Audigier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the time therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "EMBALMING AND MUMMYFYING DEAD BODIES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Auguste Audigier, my executors. or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Auguste Audigier, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-

page_text: The product which I use for embalming is composed as follows:-
1. Wood dust or powder
-
2. Nitric acid at 36% by "Baumé's "areometer
3. Marine or bay salt
4. Essences of two qualities (say essence of
lavender and essence of thyme) -
"
2 lbs. 2 ounces..
2 lbs. 1.1 ounces..
10 ounces:
5 drachms:
The wood powder, the nitric acid, and the marine salt are placed together
in a receiver or very wide or bell-mouthed vase, and kept in motion until
cooled; the essence is then added, and it may be used. I further use,a liquid
composed of,-
1. Nitric acid at 40 degrees "Baumé," saturated with marine salt 24 ounces,
2. Crystallized sulphate of zinc
7 ounces,'
placed together in a vial, and well mixed by shaking. I would here observe,·
that I do not confine myself to the precise weights and proportions above
given, as such may be varied according to circumstances and the quality of
the materials..
And having now set forth the composition of my products, I will describe
my method of effecting the embalment.
For a large body, I take about 44 lbs. weight of the powder above
described, and spread it as well as possible all about the body; then by means
of an instrument analogous to that used for feeding insane people, and which
I introduce into the mouth of the deceased under the root of the tongue, I
pour the 31 ounces of the liquid which I have prepared as above stated.
There then remains but several supplementary details, namely, I place a little
rose colour prepared with essence and vermillion on the face and hands; I
introduce into the nostrils a plug of cotton soaked with essence to preserve
the shape of the nose; then, lastly, I place a handkerchief around the head,
passing under the chin to keep the mouth and the eyes closed, and I hide the
face with a white napkin several times folded, on which I spread a little of
the powder of which I bave already spoken. The coffin is then hermetically
closed by the operation of soldering, care being taken, as the operation goes
on, to cool the soldered parts with a wet rag, in order to produce the least
possible heat.
The body may be embalmed naked or with its clothing. In certain diseases
care should be taken to place a plug in the anus to prevent the escape of the
liquid. The leaden coffin is not indispensable, but is preferable to wood. In
every case care should be taken to shake as little as possible, in order that the
powder should not come off from the body. Place the coffin in as dry a vault

page_text: as possible. The embalment having been effected, made by the conditions I
have above set forth, the mummyfication of the body will take place in less
than a year.
In conclusion, I claim the exclusive preparation of the products which I
use, and of which I have given the composition, as well as my method of
operating, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Audigier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.