Chapter 4
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Medical Embalmers and the Rise of
English Undertakers
Embalming Enhanced the
Growth of Medical Science
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No unbroken line from Egyptians all
the way forward.
Only in embalming can we see
continuity.
We will now start to see the English
Tradesman Undertaker forming.
Embalming Enhanced the
Growth of Medical Science
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15th century brought a renewed
interest in the preservation by
professionals because of
decomposition.
Embalming Enhanced the
Growth of Medical Science
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The features of Pierre of Lexumburg
was touched up by paint.
A heretic preacher who died in prison
was preserved in quicklime to
preserve him to be burned in public
with a heretic woman
Embalming Enhanced the
Growth of Medical Science
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A demand for better preservation was
seconded by Leonardo DaVinci
Leonardo DaVinci - 1452-1519
He drew over 750 Anatomical Plates
He dissected over 50 cadavers
Embalming Enhanced the
Growth of Medical Science
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He developed a system of venous
injection which inspired others later.
Unknown whether he injected any of
the cadavers, but his anticipation
showed his anatomical and
physiological genius.
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By the 15th century most of the
modern principals of embalming were
in use by medical practitioners.
The 17th century brought the discovery
of blood circulation.
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17th century Florentine physician,
Girolamo Segato-Turned a body into
stone by injecting tissues with a
solution of sillicate and potash and
then immersing it in a weak acid
solution.
(a lot of experimenting happening)
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Because of the experimenting ~
The 17th century saw the possibility of
injection embalming
It was still kept a secret though.
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Frederick R. Ruysch (1638-1731)
He was a Dutch Professor
While searching for means to preserve
anatomical specimens.
He was the first to arterially embalm,
BUT he did not divulge to his class
how he did it.
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Gabriel Clauderus
A German Physician
He was the first to publish how to
arterially embalm in a book called“Methodus Balsamundi Corpora Humani,
Aliaque Majora Sine Eviceratione.”
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William Harvey 1578-1657
He was a physician and anatomist.
He discovered the circulation of blood
in 1618 by injecting a colored dye in to
the body of a cadaver he was working
with.
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Dr. William Hunter (1718-1783)
The brave Scottsman!!!!!
He was a Scottish anatomist.
First to publish the directions for the
use of arterial and cavity embalming
for preservation of the body, not only
for lab use but for burial also.
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He is considered the originator of the
injection technique because he was
the first to report fully and openly the
fluid and method to be used.
He is considered the originator of the
injection method of embalming.
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John Hunter(William’s brother) in 1775
embalmed the body of the wife of
Martin Van Butchell, a London quack.
Used oils of turpentine, camphorated
spirits of wine for arterial injection and
camphor for cavity embalming.
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Butchell kept his wife on display,
dressed in her best clothes in a glass
lidded case in his sitting room of his
house and introduced her as “The
Dearly Departed” to guests that
visited.
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Curious seekers besieged his home to
see.
Van Butchell later remarried and his
second wife objected to his “EX” in the
parlor and she removed it to the Royal
College of Surgeons in London.
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The 1800’s brought physicians,
surgeons and anatomists
experimenting with new embalming
processes.
Chemists were also now developing
new with which to use.
Frenchman, Jean Nicholas Gannal
wrote: the History of Embalming.
Barber-Surgeons
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Practice of blood-letting
Reduce the amount of blood in their
patients…..interesting cure.
Monks had the top of their heads
shaved (Fryer Tuck) because of the
frequency of the bloodletting~
Sometimes 5 times a year
Barber-Surgeons
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Because the church wanted monks to
pay more attention to the soul than the
body, and the church abhorred the
shedding of blood~
Blood Barbers took over the practice.
Barber-Surgeons
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This led to Barber Surgeons
Blood Barbers (Barber Surgeons)
Obtained a formal decree stating that
they alone possessed the right to
open, sear and embalm the corpse.
(17th century)
• Embalming was a subordinate skill.
Pg. 100
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“Embalm”
As an English word is was of the 14th
century.
First use is in 1340 “they…..with
oymements the body embawnyd…”
French word “enbaume”
Greek word “balsomon”
To preserve with balsamic resin or
aromatic oil.
Introduction of Funeral
Undertaker
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“Undertaker” first appeared as early as
1400’s.
Function-undertook to provide some of
the funerary paraphernalia.
Limitations-They were embalmers, not
directors.
Introduction of Funeral
Undertaker
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Their service were probably not
available to the ordinary folk.
Church controlled all aspects of
funeral and burial up to this point, all
except the “lychweake” or death watch
Feudal Funerals
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Peak of heraldry and pomp.
Yards upon yards of black drapery for
the chief rooms and the staircase.
Elaborate black mourning bed.
Funeral carriages.
A velvet pall.
Feudal Funerals
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Purchase of the funeral goods was
enormously expensive and was a
drain of ones estate.
Coffins and Funeral Goods
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Introduction of MANY craftsman into
funeral undertaking.
Upholsterers and Drapers sidelined on
furnishing funerary goods such as
velvet palls, mourning cloaks and
black hangings for rooms.
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Coffins were made by carpenters,
cabinet-makers because they already
possessed the skills.
They found themselves drawn to the
new vaguely defined occupation of
undertaking.
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Craftsmen started to advertise with
handbills and cards that were in a
language sometimes quaint,
sometimes amusing, but always
revealing…..
Pg. 105
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Advertising emphasized two points:
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Wide range of funerary goods
Protection of the corpse
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The undertaker’s favorite insignia was
the coffin, usually hanging vertically
and often inscribed or decorated with
skeletons, skulls, crossbones or other
grim emblems.
Clergy
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The relationship between the clergy
and the funeral undertaker was not
good because they thought things
were too elaborate.
Burial and Sanitary Reform
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Edwin Chadwick and the Poor Law
Commissioners.
They investigated the sanitary
conditions in 1842 of the laboring
population of Great Britain.
Influence of Chadwick’s
Report on Intramural
Interments and Burials
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Wanted all cemeteries municipalized.
To prevent child murder for insurance
he recommended that a medical
officer should be required to certify
before burial the cause of death.
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It took 5 years for these
recommendations to be incorporated.
(1848)
He made charges against the
undertakers because even though
there was intense competition for the
bodies, the prices were outrageous.
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Over 200 burial clubs formed in
London as a result to help families pay
for the funerals.