Putrescent gases and odors which originate from the decomposition of those substances, partake largely of their nature, and even carry with them minute atoms of the corrupted mass into the air we breathe, and it matters not whether this putrid and offensive matter exist in the air or flesh, where the Excelsior Preservative comes in contact with it the air is at once cleansed and rendered wholesome, or the flesh preserved. My Preservative is made from chemicals that act directly upon the albumen and gluten, uniting with them to form a new compound, and the compound so formed becomes a new substance, and this has an affinity for the hitherto unaffected constituency of the flesh, which all combine to form a new, pure, and imputrescible whole; by this means changing the corruptible mass into a perfectly preserved body for all time. The Excelsior Preservative being infinitely superior and paramount to all other preparations known to man in either ancient or modern times for the preservation of the human body in its natural and life-like appearance.
CHAPTER XIV.
Advantages to the Undertaker of Scientific Embalming.
With the aid of this Manual, the enterprising Undertaker will soon find himself master of the situation, and no case, however complicated or obstinate, will be able to baffle his skill, and as there is not a town or city in the land in which there is not an occasional death of some person whose remains are removed to a distant place for interment, and as a great many of Undertakers are not skilled in the art of partial or full embalming, many such cases are of necessity either sent in a putrid state or shipped in an ice-box, to the very great annoyance and inconvenience of the friends of the deceased, when if the local Undertaker had been properly skilled in the preservation and embalming of the dead, the friends could have been gratified by not only having a proper funeral at its destination, but they would have had the satisfaction of the remains presenting a perfect and life-like appearance. The Undertaker who will give this part of the profession a little careful study and attention, will find that nothing will pay him better, for as soon as the people find out that he is really a professional undertaker, they will gladly rely upon him, and his services will be more and more appreciated by the educated and refined portion of the people, who always want this class of work well done, and are willing to pay and do pay for it whenever the Undertaker can convince them that he really understands the requirements of his profession.
I have been told hundreds of times, by persons who have lost relatives or friends, that they would have given $50, $100 or $200, or even $300, if they could only have had them preserved or embalmed for even two or three weeks, and much more if they could have had them fully embalmed. Therefore I say that there is nothing that can possibly pay the Undertaker better than to educate himself up to a full knowledge of the requirements of his profession, and it certainly is a very great inducement for him to do so when it is so easily done with the aid of the Excelsior Preservative and the instructions which I have laid before you.
CHAPTER XV.
Absorption by the Capillaries.
It is a well established fact that the capillaries or pores of the skin absorb liquids and many substances when in solution, as well as being channels of excretion of waste matter from the system.
“Draper’s Human Physiology” (a standard authority) says, page 241: “Besides exercising the functions of exhalation and perspiration, numerous facts demonstrate that the skin exerts an absorbent action. The endermic application of remedial agents establishes this in a satisfactory manner. That water can find access in this way is shown by the assuaging of the thirst which may occur on taking a bath; nor is the amount insignificant, since it may give rise to a considerable increase of weight.”
Salivation may be procured by the external application of mercurial preparations, the peculiar constitutional effects of cantharides (Spanish flies) on the urinary organs may occur from their external contact with the skin, and a multitude of such instances can be adduced to show the tendency to absorption through the pores of the skin.