Civil War
First Civil War casualty to be embalmed Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth. He died on May 24, 1861. Dr. Thomas Holmes performed the embalming technique. It was later reported that Mrs. Lincoln was very impressed with the results of the technique being Ellsworth's appearance, that she requested the same procedure be done by Dr. Thomas Holmes to their son Willie.
Egyptian Times
The embalming or mummification starts with washing the body to clean and get rid of any dirt
The second step the Egyptians took in embalming the body was removing all of the blood and organs. The liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines. The heart remained in the body. This will then lead into
The second step the Egyptians took in embalming the body was removing all of the blood and organs. The liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines. The heart remained in the body. This will then lead into
The body is then covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out.
Body is filled with linens and washed again after forty days. The skin is then rubbed with oils to make the skin stay like elastic. The body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike, and to continue to dry out the body.
During the Civil War
Embalming dated back to ancient Egypt, however, did not become popular in the United States until the Civil War. It was needed so much during the war do to the need to transport soldier’s bodies over large distances to return them to their homes. Thomas Holmes known as the father of the embalming technique.
Embalming was not made famous until Abraham Lincoln was shot and his body needed to be transported several miles over a span of several day. This was the starting point of something that would forever change history. President Lincoln's body needed to travel from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois which consisted of fourteen days of journey. Due to the innovation of embalming the body was preserved to ensure the body would last longer before decomposition so that it could return home to be seen by loved ones.
Embalming was not made famous until Abraham Lincoln was shot and his body needed to be transported several miles over a span of several day. This was the starting point of something that would forever change history. President Lincoln's body needed to travel from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois which consisted of fourteen days of journey. Due to the innovation of embalming the body was preserved to ensure the body would last longer before decomposition so that it could return home to be seen by loved ones.
Presided Abraham Lincoln.
- What bodies looked like when they were embalmed.
Soldier that fought during the Civil War.
- What the bodies looked like, or where they ended up if they were not embalmed.
Embalming Today
Still performed
State to State Laws
- To allow more time between the funereal service and burial
- To prevent the spread infection in the body
- To preserve or stall decomposition
- Removing all of the blood
- removed from the carotid, femoral, or jugular veins
- Removing gases
- The internal organs are removed
- Pumping the disinfecting fluid into the body
- Usually added through femoral and jugular veins
State to State Laws
- Embalming of the body is required in:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- New Jersey
- These four states require embalming when the body is shipped
- California
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Kansas
- When embalming is prohibited
- Hawaii (if cause of death was a contagious disease)
- Embalming has been found as being only common in the United States and Canada.
- Sanitary Commissions helped improve the death race among the wounded Union soldiers
Modern Mortician
One way to show a direct relation to the technique in todays world is by sharing the story of a modern day mortician who shares their perspective on embalming. through out this quote by Dr. Newbern is it clear what embalming truly is and clarifies that certain superstitions that are a common thought in the lives of several, are incorrect. During his story he also explains part of the process to help us better understand what it is that a mortician actually does to the body when they perform the technique of embalming.
"Embalming is not mutilation," Newbern argues. "It's simply the person raising one artery and one vein. A small tube is placed into the artery and then through the embalming machine pushes the blood and the body fluids out through the vein. You may have to raise additional arteries depending on the condition of the person. What people call 'piercing of the organs' has a purpose: it is to remove additional gasses and excess fluids from the heart, the lungs, the internal organs and the intestines. Formaldehyde hardens those organs and reduces if not eliminates additional gas buildup. This process hasn't changed much since the Civil War."
"Embalming is not mutilation," Newbern argues. "It's simply the person raising one artery and one vein. A small tube is placed into the artery and then through the embalming machine pushes the blood and the body fluids out through the vein. You may have to raise additional arteries depending on the condition of the person. What people call 'piercing of the organs' has a purpose: it is to remove additional gasses and excess fluids from the heart, the lungs, the internal organs and the intestines. Formaldehyde hardens those organs and reduces if not eliminates additional gas buildup. This process hasn't changed much since the Civil War."