ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Preface, p. [5].
Introduction, p. [9]—Embalming among the Egyptians—Cause and origin of this custom—Opinion of authors: Cassien, Herodotus, Diodorus Sicculus, Maillet, Bory de Saint Vincent, Volney, Pariset, etc.—First idea of embalming offered to the Egyptians by the mummy of the sands—Opinion of Count de Caylus de Rouelle—Plan of this work—Natural mummies—Mummies of the Guanches—Of the Egyptians—Of the Jews—Of the Greeks and Romans—Of modern nations—Mummies the object of superstitious dread—History of the Pole, Razevil—Mummy employed as a remedy in disease—Its marvellous properties—Officinal mummy of Crollius—In what embalming consisted among the Egyptians and Guanches—What it has been among the moderns—What my discoveries have made of it—Motives which have induced me to publish this work.
CHAPTER I.
Of embalming in general, p. [21]—Tendency of bodies to decomposition—Variable, according to countries, species, and individuals—Fact reported by Ammien Marcellin—Consequences deducible from it, for the natives of hot countries—for temperate and cold countries—Facts observed by Maillet—Astonishing analogy observed in the caverns of Saint Michel, at Bordeaux—Various processes of embalming—With gum—With honey—With wax—The embalming of Alexander—Of Agesilas—Brine unknown—Fact of Tulliola, reported by Coelius Rodiginus—Another by Valateron—Embalming with aromatic and astringent substances—With resinous and bituminous substances—Empyricism of the moderns—Process of Ruysch, of Swammerdam—Note of Strader—Appreciation of these methods—Useful deductions to be drawn from them—Penicher thinks it impossible to embalm without emptying the large cavities—Fact in support of his opinion—My experiments to this effect on infants.
CHAPTER II.
Natural Mummies, p. [35].—Power of nature—Importance of seeking her ways in the study of her phenomena; to follow her lessons—Division of natural mummies—Mummies due to the particular qualities of the soil—Note communicated by Drs. Boucherie, Bermont, and Gaubert, concerning the mummies of Saint Michel, at Bordeaux; thermometrical and hygrometrical observations; chemical analysis; results—Similar facts observed at Palermo—At Toulouse—History of M. de la Visée—Mummies due to the general qualities of the air and soil—Mummy of the avalanches—Time of its duration—Mummification by a cold and dry wind—Morgue of the Great Saint Bernard—Note communicated by Dr. Lenoir—Mummy of the Sands—Testimony of Herodotus—Description of Father Kircher—In Egypt—In Mexico—These facts establish a simple connexion between the productions of nature and those of human industry.
CHAPTER III.