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

by Elliot H. Crane

A washbowl or chamber, placed in a chair, is handiest for this purpose. (And here I would say, it is always best to inject into the stomach about one-quarter of a pint of the Preservative before attempting to empty it, as this will so effectually deodorize the contents of the stomach that no offensive odor or smell will arise when you empty it into the vessel, thus keeping the room free from stench.)

Immediately after emptying the stomach, place the body in an inclined position, with the head ten or twelve inches higher than the feet, as before stated (preferably on the cooling board if you have one, and the steeper the incline the better), and again inject with the syringe about one pint of the Preservative into the stomach.

This, as before stated, will effectually prevent any further fermentation or decay of any substance remaining in the stomach.

And as a further safeguard against any substance running out of the mouth, and consequent staining of the pillow or lining of the casket, it is well to stop up the throat with a little cotton. For this purpose you should have an instrument (it may be of wood) made in the shape of a spoon handle and about eight inches long; with this you can easily push a ball of cotton saturated with the Preservative well down the throat. This is a precaution that should never be omitted when the body is to be kept any great length of time, or when it has to be transported on the cars or other conveyance to any distance.

It is well to stop up the nose in the same way, but it must be done very neatly, so as not to show or change the appearance of it. Having thus attended to the stomach, you will next bathe the face, neck and whole body (if at all convenient), with the Preservative, using for this purpose a large lather brush, which is better than a sponge or cloth, as you can do the work much quicker and easier with the brush.

The rectum at this time should be injected with the Preservative and stopped with a ball of cotton saturated with the same. This should be well done, to guard against purging, and should never be omitted where there is any apparent danger of purging, or where the body is to be moved to any considerable distance before burial. Also puncture the abdomen with the Gas-trocar, and inject through the Gas-trocar into the cavity of the body around the bowels about one pint of the Preservative.

A large cloth or towel should also be wet with the Preservative and laid over the chest and abdomen, covering it well over; and in order that it will hold the moisture for several hours, it is best that the cloth should be several thicknesses over the abdomen, and should be kept wet with the Preservative by pouring from the bottle along the center of the cloth from time to time as long as the body is to be kept, or during the first two days when the burial is to take place on the third day, and if the burial is to take place on the fourth, fifth or sixth day, this cloth should be kept wet the first three days, and when the body is to be kept ten or fifteen days, this cloth should be kept wet proportionately longer.

This part of the work should be remembered and well attended to, as it is a well-known fact that decomposition and putrescence first makes its appearance in the bowels and stomach.

It is here the Preservative does its most thorough work, as, by keeping the cloths wet over the abdomen and stomach, the Preservative, to a very great extent, permeates the whole body, and is a valuable safeguard against bloating; and if bloating has not already commenced, it will never make its appearance after you commence to use the Preservative as above directed, and in very many cases it has been known to arrest and reduce bloating by its use as directed. As much depends upon absorption, the more of the Preservative there is applied externally, as above directed, the better results there will be obtained.

The face, neck, ears and hands should be well bathed with the Preservative, using the brush for this purpose, and if the ears have turned black you can remove the color in five minutes by keeping them wet with the Preservative, and pressing or squeezing them with your hand, and it is always well to do this when they have turned very dark.