Prof. E. H. Crane's manual of instructions to undertakers

by Elliot H. Crane

From the above established facts, the risk in using poisonous substances for embalming purposes—more particularly solutions of arsenic—is greater than is generally realized. This deadly poison (arsenic) is so peculiarly diffusive and penetrating that it is even injurious to sleep in rooms papered with green wall-paper, the green coloring matter used in printing such colors on wall-paper being an arsenical preparation.

Contact of the naked skin with any arsenical solution is attended with risk in exact proportion to the extent and duration of such contact, the thickness of the skin, and some other modifications, as, for instance, this deadly poison (arsenic) will be absorbed more readily through the pores of the back of the hand than through the calloused palm, much more readily through the epithelial covering of the lips than other better protected parts of the body, and even if the Embalmer is careless of the consequences to himself from using such dangerous material for his work, he is in duty bound to take into consideration when using embalming preparations that the friends and relatives often take a parting kiss from the face of their dead after the application of such preparations, and he should use none that contain any such dangerous ingredients.

All such risks, both to the Embalmer himself and to all who come into contact in any manner with the dead, are entirely avoided when using the Excelsior Preservative. It is a perfect antidote, not only for septic poisoning from contact with infectious matter in handling dead bodies, but also a sure antidote to the dangerous effects arising from the use of any poisonous solutions that may be used for embalming purposes; and if for any reason such are used, or if there is any suspicion of danger of being inoculated with poisonous matter, I would urge for your own safety and protection that you freely use the Preservative, bathing your hands or any part that may be exposed to contact with the poison, as the free application of the Preservative will neutralize and destroy the poisonous matter and prevent any unpleasant or serious consequences.

The Preservative is not only perfectly harmless in its external contact with living flesh, but it is even remarkably curative in its effects when applied to chapped hands, sores, or even fresh cuts. This is, as a matter of course, outside of its legitimate use as an Embalming preparation, and I refer to it only as indicating the radical difference between the arsenical and other poisonous solutions (the so-called “fluids”) and the Excelsior Preservative, which last contains no such dangerous ingredients.

CHAPTER XVI.
Embalming Instruments.

Much can be accomplished in restoring and retaining the natural appearance and color of the exposed portions of a dead body, and decomposition can be retarded for a time by using the Preservative freely externally and without the aid of instruments, wetting clothes with it and applying to the face, neck, and hands to restore and retain their natural color, and also over the bowels where decomposition first sets in, which application will delay its progress for a time, as the Preservative is very penetrating, but a good set of Embalming instruments are almost indispensable for every undertaker to be possessed of, as there will often be cases where there is a necessity for cavity injection to hold the body a number of days for the arrival of distant friends, and occasionally for Arterial Embalming for shipment to long distances.

It would be out of place for us to advertise our Instruments in a work of this kind, and we would simply say that we invite correspondence in regard to Instruments desirable for use. We would prefer to supply our customers with a good set of Instruments at a nominal price to cover the cost of manufacture rather than to have them remain without them or be using inferior ones, as the best results in Embalming are attained only with the best tools which rule holds good in every kind of work.

We have on hand Instruments of every description for every kind of Embalming work, from sets consisting of those used only for partial embalming, up to complete sets in elegant Cabinets with every tool required for any purpose. Our syringe has a screw fitting turned on the suction end so that any of the tubes or the Gas-trocar can be fitted on and collections of fluid in the body pumped out with it.

All the tubes and the Gas-trocar are nickel plated and non-corrosive, and we would call especial attention to our improved Gas-trocar which is the most complete tool of its kind ever manufactured being superior to any other as it is so constructed that it will not clog.