History of Embalming / and of Preparations in Anatomy, Pathology, and Natural History; Including an Account of a New Process for Embalming

by J.-N. Gannal

Embalming of the Guanches, p. [48].—Resemblance between the embalmings of the Guanches, and those of the Egyptians—Consequences deducible from this resemblance—Description of the processes drawn from the Essay of M. Bory de Saint Vincent—Duration of embalming—State in which are found these mummies at the present day—Probable duration of their preservation—Catacombs at Fer, the Canaries, &c.—Construction of mausoleums—Fact observed by M. Jouannet of two Guanch mummies.

CHAPTER IV.

Embalming among the ancient Egyptians, p. [54].—What comprises the labour of embalming—Disposition—Thermometrical and hygrometrical state of the caverns in which the bodies were deposited; what advantages for preservation resulted from these—Recital of Herodotus—Of Diodorus Sicculus—Orpheus transposes these usages into Grecian mythology—Judgment of the dead—The place where they are deposited—Models of embalmings presented to relatives—Three kinds of embalmings; description of each by Herodotus—Horror existing for those charged with making the incisions—Invocation to the sun, previous to casting away the intestines—Precautions taken for the preservation of the bodies of young females, or those of high rank—Commentaries on the narratives of the ancients—Succession of means discussed—Opinion of Rouelle concerning natrum—Examination of the linen bandages in which the mummies are enveloped—Analysis of the embalming material by Rouelle; explanation of several passages—Exhibition of models—Price—New details furnished by Diodorus—Quantity of bandages found around a single mummy—Embalming of bodies without sepulture—drowned persons for example—Mummy of a prince of Memphis—Examination of this mummy by Rouelle, and the Count de Caylus—Extracts from the work of M. Rouyer, (great work upon Egypt;) the details which he furnishes complete our knowledge of Egyptian embalming; how many kinds of mummies he acknowledges—Mummies having an incision on the left side—Mummies without any incision—Exploration and description of the plain of Saggârah, by De Maillet—Visit to the subterranean chambers—Mummy, near which was found a symbolical statue—Description of an antique found in a tomb—Mummies preserved upon beds of carbon—Conclusion drawn from facts contained in this chapter.

CHAPTER V.

Of embalming, from the time of the Egyptians down to our days, p. [89].—Honours of embalming, conferred by other nations on distinguished men only—Doubts on the efficacy of this operation—Example of Alexander, and of Ptolemy—Embalming among the Jews—Embalming of Jesus Christ—Employment of wax among the Persians—Methods of De Bils, of Ruysch, of Swammerdam, of Clauderus—Description of the cabinet of Sieur Desenclosses—Silence regarding the processes of preservation employed by these authors—Composition of the balsam given by Penicher—Salt of Clauderus—Brine of Charles de Maétz—Preservation of the body of Saint Thomas—Formulæ: balsamic wines, compound brandy, vinegar, cere-cloth—Mixtures for soaking the linens: liniment, balsamic powders—Various methods of embalming, to the number of four—Embalming of the heart—Preservation of the heart of an Abbe—Embalming of Madame the Dauphine—Reflections.

CHAPTER VI.

Art of embalming in our day, previous to my discoveries, p. [118].—Opinion of M. Pelletan upon the imperfect state of this art—Dispute among the physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries, upon the question of precedence—Embalming the senators of the empire—Improvements proposed by M. Pelletan—Application of the discoveries of Chaussier upon the preservative properties of the deuto-chloride of mercury to the art of embalming—Embalming, as practised by Béclard—Preservation of the body of Colonel Morland, by M. Larrey—Remarks—Preservation of the body of a young girl of ten years, by M. Boudet—Reflections on these facts—Embalming of Louis XVIII., King of France—Fifteenth observation—Criticism—Empyricism in this art—Exact appreciation of the preservative properties of the deuto-chloride of mercury—Superiority of the means which I propose.

CHAPTER VII.

Means for the preparation and preservation of parts of normal anatomy, of pathological anatomy, and of natural history, anterior to the Gannal process, p. [141].—Importance of such preparations to the physician and naturalist—Plan of a museum—Engravings: pieces in wax, artificial pieces in carton, in white wood—The methods of preparing recent organs and tissues—Process of Swan, of Chaussier—1. Generalities concerning the operations which precede preservation—Choice of subjects—Dissection—Maceration and corrosion—Injections; evacuants; repletives; conservatives; washings; ligature of vessels—Separation and distention of parts—2. Methods of preservation of naturalists—Preservation by desiccation—Methods divided into four series; rectified spirits of wine; deuto-chloride of mercury, and other metallic substances—Earthy salts—Process of tanning—Desiccation—Preservation in liquids, acids, alkalies, salts, alum, volatile oils, alcoholic liquors—Means of preservation practised by naturalists: soap of Bécoeur, soapy pomatum—tanning liquor—antiseptic powder—gummy paste—preservative powder—German powder—powder of Naumann, and of Hoffman—Preservatives in liquors: bath, naturalist preparors in Paris, tanning liquor, bath of the Abbe Manesse—Liquors as washes; essence of serpolet, of turpentine—Liquor of Sir S. Smith—Bitter spirituous liquors—Varnish—Liquors employed as injections—Liquors in which objects are preserved which do not admit of drying—Spirit of wine—Liquor of Nicholas—Of George Graves—Of the Abbe Manesse—Critical reflections—Appreciation of each of the proposed means—(1.) For desiccation—New methods which I propose for the preparation of dry parts—Example of an injection by my method—The subject submitted to the examination of a scientific commission—Application of my process to the preservation of mammiferous animals—Of birds—State of the tissues—(2.) For preservation in liquids—Nitric Acid—Alcohol—Weakened alcohol—Alum: chemical demonstration of its insufficiency for preservation—(3.) Means of preservation applied to each tissue—Fibrous tissue—Articulations—Aponeuroses, tendons and ligaments—Process of M. J. Cloquet—Osseous tissue—Maceration—Ebullition—Bleaching—Cutaneous tissue—Cellular tissue—Synovial and serous tissues—Brain—Spinal marrow—Nerves—Blood-vessels—Muscular tissue—Heart—Lungs—Eye—Fœtus—Envelopes.

CHAPTER VIII.