The Paris journals mention a curious discovery as recently made
by two chemists at Chaillot. By a secret process, to which they have given the name of " Momification," they have succeeded in so perfecting the known processes of preserving as to reduce bodies to mummies, leaving all the forms unaltered. The elementS of disorganisation are com- pletely destroyed ; and not only the external body, but the viscera, the lungs, the heart, the liver, and even the brain, are perfectly preserved ; the features also remain so perfectly uninjured, that correct portraits may be taken at any length of time after death. The body is not enveloped in bandages, as in the Egyptian method ; and thus the natural forms are perfectly preserved. The operation requires but a very few days ; after which the bodies may be preserved in a room or a vault, or interred in the ordinary way, without being accessible to worms. They may also be exposed to all the, variations of the air without undergoing any alteration. At a late meeting of the Aca- demie des Sciences, a human body, and also two hearts, preserved in this manner, were exhibited, and the process 'appeared perfect; even the discoloured state of the skin' occasioned bythe sear of an old wound was fully perceptible; and, although these preparations bad been com- pleted several %twits., not the slightest approach to change of any kind was observable.
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