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How
a Body is Embalmed
Embalming as practiced in the funeral home of
the The United States of America uses several steps.
Any clothing on the corpse is removed and set aside; jewelry is also
inventoried. The corpse is then washed in disinfecting and germicidal
solutions, shaved, and groomed. The embalmer bends, flexes and massages
the arms and legs to relieve rigor mortis. The eyes are closed and kept
closed with an eyecap that keeps them shut and in the proper expression.
The mouth may be sewn shut, and a device is also employed to allow the
embalmer to set the facial expression of the corpse.
The actual embalming process usually involves four parts:
- Artery embalming, which involves the injection
of embalming chemicals into the blood vessels, usually via the right carotid
artery. Blood is drained
from the right jugular vein. The embalming solution is injected using
an embalming machine and the embalmer massages the corpse to ensure
a proper
distribution of the embalming fluid. In case of poor circulation, other
injection points are used;
- Cavity embalming, the suction of the internal fluids
of the corpse and the injection of embalming chemicals into body cavities,
using an aspirator
and trocar. The embalmer makes a small incision just above the navel
and pushes the trocar in the chest and stomach cavities to puncture the
hollow
organs and aspirate their contents. He then fills the cavities with concentrated
chemicals. The incision is either sutured closed or a "trocar button" is
screwed into place.
- Hypodermic embalming, the injection of embalming
chemicals under the skin as needed; and
- Surface embalming, which supplements the other
methods, especially for visible, injured body parts.
Embalming chemicals vary in their composition, but
most are based on formaldehyde and methanol (wood alcohol).
Cosmetics are then applied to the corpse to make it appear more living
and create a "memory picture" for the deceased's friends and relatives.
An oily foundation is placed on the visible areas of the skin, and theatrical
or mortuary cosmetics are placed on the corpse. A photograph of the dead
person in good health is often sought, in order to guide the embalmer's
hand in restoring the corpse to a more lifelike appearance. Blemishes and
discolorations occasioned by the last illness, the settling of blood, or
the embalming process itself are also dealt with at this time. Various funeral
homes have different practices as to whether the corpse will be clothed
during the time of application of the cosmetics, or whether the cosmetics
will be applied first and the corpse clothed afterwards.
As for clothing the body, tradition has been for the deceased to wear semi-formal
clothing (a suit jacket and tie for men; a dress for women); however,
in more recent years, the family often chooses to dress the deceased in
more casual wear (such as a t-shirt and blue jeans), especially if the deceased
was young.
Modern embalming is done to delay decomposition so that funeral services
may take place.
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embalming
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