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

But this library, so eloquent and instructive, does it exist at the present time? Do we possess the means of forming such? The examination of the various processes, ought to furnish us with an answer to this question; it will besides enable our readers to estimate for themselves the part that our method may enjoy in the accomplishment of this object.

And first, in admitting the utility of engravings of models in wax, and in artificial carton,[L] in white wood, or in other compositions kept secret by their authors, we feel that whatever may be the accuracy of these different representations, they never can afford but an incomplete idea of the thing represented. 1st. Plates and engravings, so advantageous for reference, to recall the study made upon the corpse, have lost their importance in proportion as the means of obtaining dead bodies have become more easy: they are calculated to render great service and contribute to the progress of science in the fine anatomical works of Meckel, Lauth, Haller, Zinn, Hunter, Cruikshank, Cowper, Vic-d, Azyr, and of numerous other learned authors; at the present day, even, they are justly esteemed in the great works of MM. Cloquet, Bourgerie, &c. (The plates of the work of M. Bourgerie, are executed with remarkable care, and will form an epoch in the history of anatomical works.) But they occupy a secondary place, only to aid the memory; for of whatever good they may be, they must always have many inconveniences: 1. They fatigue attention, because it is necessary so often to multiply the figures, when it is requisite to examine an object under all its aspects where it is of importance to perceive it; 2. The organs are rarely seen of their natural dimensions; 3. Whatever may be the exactitude of the drawing, it is difficult to form a just idea of the relief and dimension of the organs; 4. The relations which they indicate are always incomplete; it is impossible thus to represent all the organs in their position, and in their natural relations.

2d. Models in wax, nearer to nature than plates, reproduces objects with admirable truth for the eye, but for the eye only. They were recently estimated of such importance, that courses on modelling were introduced into the schools in many cities of France; nevertheless, it cannot be concealed that pieces thus prepared leave much to be desired: 1. The relations of the organs which they indicate are very limited: 2. It is necessary then to multiply them to infinity, if it be desirable to represent under various points of view, the different points of the human body, which is indispensable, in order to comprehend their relations and connections: 3. And still the mind comprehends with difficulty the totality of objects viewed in a great number of pieces: 4. They cannot be handled and displaced as is requisite for study, without injury to them.

3d. Artificial pieces, which possess many of the inconveniences of wax models, are more proper to give a knowledge of the parts, which enter into the structure of man; nevertheless, if they be white wood, like the subjects of Fontana, or in Carton, like those of Ameline, or of M. Azoux,[8] they leave much to be learned of the properties which are requisite to an accurate and complete knowledge of the parts. Finally, these three means of communicating knowledge possess their degree of utility, but they can never support a comparison with the proper matter of the organs; they may serve to complete a museum, but never to form one; so we content ourselves to mention them here, in order to assign them a rank.

Anatomical pieces which place before the eyes the organs, themselves, are then the elements, “par excellence,” for the formation of collections, which are to serve as studies of normal anatomy, of pathological anatomy, and of natural history, but, the preparation and preservation of these pieces is a new science; we ought not to be astonished at it, notwithstanding the advanced state of our anatomical knowledge, if we reflect on the difficulties of all kinds, which prejudice excited in our predecessors. It is stated, it is true, that Ruysch, had discovered the means of preserving the dead body, with all the appearance of life, without drying, with florid complexion, and supple limbs. But, is this really the fact? and have we not good reasons to doubt such assertions, since no collection of anatomical pieces, prepared by this process, has descended to us, and no explanation has confirmed our knowledge of them?

We may then conclude, that the means of preparing and preserving, does not date much earlier than the commencement of the present century. None of them, however, has had for object the preservation of the entire subject: that which offers us the most numerous parts united in the same preparation has only a reference to anatomy, properly so called; it is the process of M. Swan, of England, given by him as a new method of making dried anatomical preparations, preserving to them the appearance and the advantages of fresh preparations, without possessing the inconveniences of them; this process is, as we shall see, only an application of the discovery of Chaussier, on the preservative properties of the deuto-chloride of mercury. We give it here, before passing in review the methods of preparation practised for each organ or each tissue.

“In order to describe the manner of making these preparations, I shall only take the arm by way of example.

“The member should be selected as clear from fat as possible. A solution of two ounces of oxymuriate of mercury, in half a pint of rectified spirits of wine, must be injected into the arteries, and the day after make another injection with the same quantity of white spirit varnish, to which must be added one-fifth part of turpentine varnish, and a small quantity of vermillion. The limb should next be placed in hot water, and remain there until it is sufficiently heated for a coarse injection into the arteries, and even the veins if necessary. If the veins are to be injected they had better be emptied of blood, with water, before forcing into the arteries the solution of oxymuriate of mercury, because there returns always by the veins some portion of this injection which coagulate the contained blood, and hinders the coarse injection from passing into the smaller branches.

“After the limb has been injected it may be dissected. Every time the work is left, it is better that the parts uncovered, should be enveloped in a linen cloth wet with water; and when the dissection is recommenced a great advantage will be remarked, which is that the parts injected with the solution of the sublimate will suffer very little alteration in several days, and are found in the same state in which they were left, whilst, by the common method, in one or two days, all is so changed that there is little profit in seeing what has been done, and if the dissection is long, they will scarcely be recognised when finished.

“Another advantage is that it may be dissected any where, since the preparation is without odour.