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
On the 16th of August, I injected a subject with eight quarts of
acetate of alumine at twenty degrees. This corpse, placed upon the
table without any other preparation, was preserved perfectly well
for the period of one month; at the end of this period, it might be
perceived that the nostrils, the eyelids, and the extremities of the
ears, commenced drying, as well as the hands and feet. In order to
remedy this inconvenience, I covered one half the subject with a layer
of varnish. At the end of two months, it was easy to remark, that the
part subjected to the action of the air had considerably diminished
in volume, and was less useful for dissection. Finally, at the end of
January, 1836, the varnished parts, not dissected, were still well
preserved, whilst the rest was completely dried, mummified.
Dr. Piory had indicated to the Academy of Medicine a method of
preserving bodies: it consisted, according to him, in enveloping the
body in layers of pewter, and of linen, and then of varnish. This
process perfectly succeeded with me on a subject injected with acetate
of alumine.
Another subject was injected with the chloride of aluminium. This
injection did not succeed well, and with three bodies I met with the
same difficulties, that is to say, the liquid contained in the syringe
having been introduced after the space of time allowed for refilling
it, the circulatory system had become so obliterated that the force of
even two men was not sufficient to introduce an additional quantity.
At twenty degrees the chloride of aluminium has so great an affinity
for water, that it absorbs that of which the organs are constituted.
However, the parts of the body which had been penetrated by the liquid
were well preserved, the muscles in particular had preserved their
colour.
I injected another subject with the chloride at eight degrees, but, at
the end of a month, it was decomposed. Finally, I introduced a quart of
chloride at ten degrees, and six quarts at twenty degrees; this subject
was preserved, but the parts not dissected were dried at the end of
five months.
A mixture of three quarts of the acetate of alumine at ten degrees,
and of three quarts of the chloride of aluminium at twenty degrees,
injected by the aorta, or better still, by the carotid artery, have
afforded the most satisfactory results.
I have already remarked that all these experiments were made under the
inspection of the commission appointed by the Academy of Sciences,
of those of the Academy of Medicine, and of the Monthyon commission,
composed of MM. Dulong, Magendie, Darcet, and Dumas, reporter. The
account which these commissioners have rendered to the two Academies,
renders it unnecessary to present here a summary of my experiments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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