How to Preserve Bodies After Death

Preserving a dead body for any length of time takes some expertise.

Preserving bodies after death is a process that has evolved considerably over the centuries. Ancient Egyptians would mummify dead bodies by removing the major organs and packing the inside and outside of the body with salt to dry it out over 40 days. The corpse would then be wrapped in linens which were treated with waterproof resins. Today's process for preserving a dead body is aided by more modern technological techniques but still requires the ability of someone trained and experienced in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Refrigeration unit
• Absorbent padding
• Warm soap and water
• Disinfectant
• Embalming machine
• Embalming chemicals
• Trocar
• Hydroaspirator

Instructions

1. Move the body into a refrigeration unit. The colder the body is, the slower decomposition will be. This will make it more difficult for bacteria to cultivate.

2. Place absorbent padding at each of the orifices of the body to prevent seepage.

3. Wash the body with soap and water to remove any dirt or grease. Spray disinfectant around the eyes, nose and mouth, as these areas tend to decay first.

4. Pour embalming fluid (such as formaldehyde) into an embalming machine and hook up the machine to the body. Inject the intake tube into the carotid artery in the neck and the outtake tube into the jugular vein.

5. Run the embalming machine to remove blood from the body and replace it with the embalming fluid. The fluid makes it harder for bacteria to grow in the body and break it down.

6. Insert the trocar (a long metal tube, plastic hose combination) into the body to the left of the belly button of the body. The trocar should be connected to a hydroaspirator. Turn on the hydroaspirator to suck moisture out from the major organs in the body. Move it around through the initial puncture to find the kidneys, spleen, and other organs. Once they are drained, reverse the flow of the hydroaspirator to pump more embalming fluids into the organs.

7. Seal the puncture from the trocar with cotton.and dress the body as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Makeup is usually applied to corpses for open-casket funerals to improve the overall appearance of the body.

References

• University of Rochester: How Are Mummies Made?
• Australian Museum: Body Disposal- Legal Procedures
• The Morning News: How to Embalm a Body

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish