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
bodies along the walls of the chamber, but a greater number were
entirely divested of flesh, and lie scattered about the earthy floor of
the room. They informed me, that decomposition only took place when the
bodies fell by accident to the ground; which was owing to the humidity
occasioned by the snow, which occasionally entered with the currents
of air through the windows of the morgue.[G] (Note communicated by Dr.
Lenoir.)
[G] Early in September, 1833, I had an opportunity of inspecting the
contents of the morgue of Saint Bernard. Among the group of bodies of
every age and sex, we were particularly struck with two figures, one,
that of a man, whose countenance was horridly contorted by the act
of desiccation; each limb, and every muscle of the body, had assumed
the expression of a wretch in purgatory. The other was that of a
mother holding her infant to her bosom, the latter, with an imploring
expression, looking up to the face of the mother, whom it appeared
to have survived some time, as is generally the case when mother and
child are frozen together--a greater power of forming animal heat
existing in children.--_Tr._
The existence of the mummies of the sands, is attested by numerous
travellers, and all the authors who have written on embalming mention
them. They are every where found, where an arid and burning atmosphere
deeply penetrates the masses of fine sand, easily agitated by the
winds. In Egypt, for example, Herodotus frequently speaks of these
bodies dried by the sun. Cambyses, on the authority of this author,
suffered horrible effects from these sands, driven before the wind;
he lost almost his whole army during his expedition to the temple of
Jupiter Ammon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account