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Restoration The following description is excerpted from Death to Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies, by Kenneth V. Iserson, Galen Press, Ltd., Tucson, AZ, 1994. Restoration is the attempt to revive the deceased's natural form and color. To do this, the restorer tries to remove the visible effects of injury and disease and to hide postmortem changes. . . . Restoration techniques are applied before, during and after the actual embalming. The restorer first closes any wounds or drainage sites. Superglue ® . . . is the restorer's best friend in this process. A little dab can close many wounds and intravenous catheter sites effectively. . . . The restorer then disinfects and sews any larger wounds. . . . If the body has been autopsied, he will fill the neck, abdomen and pelvis with cotton- or kapoc-soaked preservatives to achieve a natural look. The body cavities and scalp are then sewn closed very tightly and the wounds are sealed. Swelling in the corpse can result from injury, medications, or hospital-administered fluids. The restorer first tries to reduce this swelling by instilling a very strong embalming fluid. If this fails, he may cut away tissue to obtain an acceptable appearance or apply cold packs to reduce the swelling. If tissue has been removed, the restorer tightly sews the area closed and seals the area with mortuary putty or hardening compound to prevent leakage of body or embalming fluid. If parts of the anatomy are missing, they will usually be replaced with plaster, plastic, clay, way, or wire-mesh substitutes that are covered or, when necessary colored, to match the body. . . . Embalmers remove bruises with bleaching agents, such as "Bruise Bleach," a compound of carbolic acid (phenol). They cover remaining discoloration with an opaque paint or wax. Burned skin is removed before embalming, and rough skin can be sandpapered before cosmetics are applied. |
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