How Does Embalming Fluid Work?
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What Is Embalming Fluid?
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Embalming fluid is a combination of chemicals used to preserve, sanitize and disinfect a human body before it is buried. These chemicals include a mixture of methanol, formaldehyde and ethanol, as well as a range of other solvents. In the United States, more than 20 million liters of embalming fluid are used every year to preserve bodies in mortuaries and funeral homes (PERC Reports, 2007).
Reasoning
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Embalming has been historically used to help preserve bodies for religious and ceremonial reasons. Today, embalming is used to help slow down the decaying process long enough for there to be a viewing time for friends and family of the deceased. Morticians want to provide the most realistic-looking facial structure and look for a viewing. Without embalming fluid, bodies would decay too much to have open casket funerals.
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How It Works
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Decomposition is caused by bacteria eating the dead skin tissue for nutrients. Embalming fluid works by sealing the tissue cells so that the bacteria cannot eat them. Additives in the embalming fluid also kill the bacteria that decompose the flesh. The embalming mixture, or arterial solution, can be varied in the composition of ingredients depending on how long the body needs to be preserved before burial. In some cases, the body can be preserved for weeks to allow for shipping of the body to its final resting place.
The Process
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Embalming fluid is injected using a thick needle and tubing that is inserted into the arteries. As the embalming fluid enters the body, the remaining blood is pushed from the body and replaced by the fluid. Embalming fluid may also be pumped in to replace other bodily fluids.
Other Uses
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Embalming fluid has found its way into other parts of Americans' lives, most notably in the illicit drug market. PCP and marijuana are often laced with embalming fluid to increase the hallucinogenic properties of the drugs. Embalming fluid is also popularly used to soak cigarettes. Because the embalming fluid allows the cigarette to burn slower, many believe it will increase the high. But using embalming fluid in this way can cause a host of health problems, including a higher risk of cancer.
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Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.usdoj.gov
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Comments
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you can't beet good old fashoned mummyfying.
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I'm a embalmer and have been for many years, unfortunatley you do come across 'bad emabalming' and bad practise I'm happy to say however that these cases are far and few between and most embalmers are qualified, Also there is a huge grey area over permission to embalm as it is classes as hygiene in the work place and is there to help prevent infection but as a good funeral director you would obviously ask the family first! hope this helps to ease your mind.
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Any parent that endangers an unborn child should suffer,be punished,for the simple reason -when the unwanted child is born,it's labeled & life don't get any better.need I say more !!!
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I hurd about someone drinking this to bring on a miscarriage, that never happened, the baby was born with a heart condition, I wondered about embalming fluid and it's affects on ppl.Sad to think a Mother can stoop so low.
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My mother was embal with out our permission we did not regonize her she looked terrible her jaw was to wide her mouth was one long line from ear to earher eyes where tightly shut.. we only regonize her from her small finger...why? she looked like a stuffed hamster..WHY?
