Improvements relating to the preservation or mummification of corpses / [José De Nueda].

  • De Nueda, José.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Improvements relating to the preservation or mummification of corpses / [José De Nueda]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Be Nuedas Improvements relating to the Preservation or Mummification of Corpses. The process that forms the subject of the present application, has for its object the avoiding of the disastrous consequences to public health caused by the actual method of burial as now performed, and at the same time replaces with advantage the two systems above described. - ' The present invention comprises the rapid preservation and mummification of 0 corpses by means of a relative vacuum in an appropriate metal coffin. By placing a corpse in a space closed hermetically and extracting the gas and the moisture that it contains, all causes of decomposition are removed ; the corpse becomes mummified rapidly and the coffin remains intact instead of being destroyed in a short time like the coffins now used. # . ^ The form of coffin to which I give preference for putting my process in practice is a metal coffin, of galvanized sheet iron ; this will resist decomposition ; but to further add to its durability it is covered on the exterior with several coats of paint or of varnish. # 1JC The lid of the coffin is closed in a perfectly hermetical manner, either by means of 10 soldering or by cement of some suitable description ; it is fitted on the surface with a number of panes of glass, which permit the interior of the coffin to be seen. The sides of the coffin are coated on the interior with a thick layer of tar and the corpse rests upon a bed of charcoal destined principally, owing to the chemical. reactions that are produced between this charcoal and the gases that are disengaged from the 20 corpse to constitute round the corpse a constant source of carbonic acid. At some suitable part of the coffin is placed an automatic valve with or without a stop cock, to this valve is attached a pipe communicating with an air pump. The extraction of the gases and of the moisture can be performed either in one or several operations and these gases can be conducted to a hearth and there 25 consumed. The accompanying drawings show a type of coffin that I propose to call an “ Egyptian Coffin ” figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. But I reserve the right to use any appropriate shape and material for coffins in carrying out my invention. 30 The coffins must be however so constructed as to resist the pressure of the atmosphere ; for this purpose amongst the different forms I employ coffins of a tubular shape, which offer a greater resistance, thus allowing their thickness to be reduced and consequently their price. These coffins may be made of galvanized sheet-iron as already described, of sandstone or of any other suitable material, with or without 35 ornaments. A door with an air tight joint, provided at one of the extremities of the tube, permits the introduction of the corpse. In the accompanying drawings :— Figure 1 represents the exterior lid of the coffin. Figure 2 represents the coffin furnished with lid complete, upon which are shown 40 the panes of glass and the automatic valve. Figures 3 and 4 are separate views of the lid and of the coffin. Figure 5 represents a type of tubular coffin, it is mounted in a metal stand or support that partly conceals by its ornaments the round form of the coffin. A door provided at the extremity of this support permits the introduction of the corpse. 45 I will conclude by saying that my process can be equally well applied to burial in common. For this purpose I employ large hermetically closed rooms or chambers either formed of metal or otherwise; in these rooms or chambers the corpses are placed, immediately, the rooms or chambers being in communication with a suitable air pump. 50 To avoid the entrance of air, the aforesaid rooms or chambers can be provided with anti chambers in which the operation of mummification can be effected, before the corpses are collected in the common room or chamber. Lastly my process can also be employed to preserve anatomical subjects, such as corpses intended subsequently to be submitted to legal proceedings, as well as to those 55 intended to be exposed to public view for purposes of identification.
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