History of Embalming: and of Preparations in Anatomy, Pathology, and Natural History; Including an Account of a New Process for EmbalmingGannal, J.-N. (Jean-Nicolas)
History
History of Embalming: and of Preparations in Anatomy, Pathology, and Natural History; Including an Account of a New Process for Embalming
Gannal, J.-N. (Jean-Nicolas)
Anatomical specimens -- Collection and preservation; Embalming -- History; Mummies
“_Dealbation, or bleaching of bones._--In order to obtain macerated
bones perfectly white, several processes are employed: 1. The best
method consists in placing them upon the grass exposed to the united
action of the air, the sun, and the dew, as is practised in bleaching
linen, wax, &c.; care is to be taken to turn them every fifteen days,
in order that they may bleach equably; two or three months of such
exposure is sufficient, particularly during the spring, to give them
a brilliant whiteness. 2. The bones may be exposed to the action of
chlorine, either liquid or gaseous. In the first case, they are to
be plunged three or four times daily in a lie which holds chlorine
in solution, repeating this operation for ten or twelve days; in the
second, they must be steeped in water, placed on a hurdle and covered
with cere-cloth or gummed taffeta, they are then to be exposed over an
earthen pan, in which has been placed suitable proportions, of muriate
of soda, oxide of manganese, and sulphuric acid: from time to time this
mixture is to be slightly heated. 3. In place of gaseous chlorine, the
vapour of sulphuric acid may be advantageously employed, as is done
in the arts of bleaching wool, silk, &c.; sulphur is slowly burned
beneath the hurdle, upon which has been placed the moistened bones; the
alkaline lies may also be used for the bleaching of bones although they
do not appear to me so advantageous as the preceding means.
“3. _Cutaneous tissues._--Deprived of grease, and of subjacent cellular
tissue and exposed to the air, this tissue inclines to dry. The human
skin may be prepared by the aid of several processes analogous to those
of tanners and leather dressers. A lie has been recommended composed of
two pounds of common salt, four ounces of sulphate of iron, and eight
ounces of alum, melted in three pints of almost boiling water; the skin
divested of its grease, is plunged into this solution, agitated for
half an hour, and macerated for a day or two in this liquid; the lie
must be frequently renewed, then the skin is to be withdrawn from the
bath and dried in the shade.
“4. _Cellular tissue._--Authors have successively employed desiccation,
insufflation, tanning liquors and alcohol, for preparing the cellular
tissue; although the method given by them as preferable, is the
preservation in an aqueous solution of nitrate of alumine, to which is
added a small quantity of spirits of wine.
“5. _Synovial and serous tissues._--The first is much more easily
preserved than the other; an accurate dissection, expulsion of the
synovial liquor, kneading, and desiccation, are the means used; the
operation is finished by the application of a preservative varnish. The
same practice is applied to the serous tissues, but with less success;
its proximity to organs eminently putrescible, such as the brain, the
lungs, the liver, renders its dissolution more imminent, more difficult
to prevent.
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