Death of the Embalming Industry?

With 30 years of industry experience, we’ve seen a lot of death. So, we have learned to recognize the signs. With widespread interest in eco-friendly funerals and green burials on a meteoric rise, we anticipate the impending doom of an industry that has been at the heart of our own since formaldehyde was discovered by Alexander Butlerov and Wilhelm von Hofmann in the 19th century. Their contemporary, Dr. Thomas Holmes (1817-1900), is considered the father of modern embalming. In truth, the trio only served to improve on a practice which was first used by the Egyptians in 6000 BC. Although the practice of preserving dead bodies will likely continue indefinitely, the method used to do so is headed in greener directions. For example, at Foothill Funeral & Cremation, we offer a green embalming alternative, which is formaldehyde-free and made from essential oils that act as a temporary preservative.

Origins of Embalming

• Egyptian embalmers were members of the priesthood.
• Some believe their method is a “lost art.” But in truth, their method was crude.
• Much of their success is likely owed to the dry, hot climate. Since bacteria destroys dead bodies, heat and lack of moisture prevent bacterial growth and survival.
• The Egyptians practiced three methods of embalming based on the deceased’s wealth and stature.
• The most expensive method included 5 steps and cost approximately $2,000 in modern terms. The cheapest embalming would have cost about $150.

Embalming Process in Early Egypt for Well-Heeled

1. Remove the brain. Repack the skull with resin.
2. Eviscerate internal organs through an abdominal incision.
3. Wash and mix with resins and spices and return to the body or place in separate burial vases called “canopic jars.”
4. Immerse the body in natron (sodium salt) for 20-70 days.
5. Dehydrate the body by placing it in the sun.
6. Wrap with 1,200 yards of bandage and secure with gum or glue while the body was still damp.
7. Place body in a sarcophagus and return remains to the family.

Modest Early Embalming Process

About 80% of the Egyptian population fit into the category of people who used the cheapest method. It consisted of:

1. Within a walled suburb known as the Necropolis (Literally, “City of the dead”) all death care activities took place.
2. Immerse the body in the natron solution.
3. Keep the body intact for at least 3,000 years.

Early Embalming Practices in Other Regions

The Egyptians were not the only people to practice some type of preservation of the dead. For example, ancient Ethiopian tribes preserved their dead in a similar manner. Also, Aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands circa 900 BC practiced mummified their dead. Other practices:

• Babylonians, Persians, and Syrians – Placed their dead in honey or wax jars. Decomposition was prevented by depriving the bacteria in the body of air.
  
• Peruvians practiced mummification 1,000 years before falling to Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century.
• Jewish customs forbade embalming and cremating, as these were considered mutilating the body. Preparation for burial consisted of applying oils and spices and wrapping the body.
• Since the Greeks believed the deceased journey across the river Styx to land in eternity. To pay for passage, embalmers placed a coin in the mouth of the deceased.
• Cremation came into practice in about 300 BC.
• The Romans did not practice embalming. Romans repeatedly washed the body, seven days in a row, with hot water and oil. The delay prevented premature burial.

Early American Embalming

Modern embalming began during the Civil War. When Dr. Thomas Holmes was commissioned as a captain in the Army Medical Corps, he was assigned to Washington, D.C. In this position, using formaldehyde, he embalmed 4,000 army officers and soldiers who were killed in battle. The practice intrigued President Lincoln, who directed the Quartermaster Corps to adopt the method so the Union dead could be returned to their home towns for proper burial. When Holmes realized the commercial potential of this form of preservation, he resigned his commission and offered it to the public for $100 a pop. After the Civil War, demand fell. So, undertakers began using ice to ward off decomposition, which was necessary only temporarily – to preserve the body for funeral.

Modern Embalming

The disinfection and preservation of the dead human body, modern embalming accomplishes three main things. (Warnings to the squeamish.):

1. 1. Disinfection. While some pathogens die soon after the death of the host, many dangerous organisms can survive in dead tissues. Persons who come in direct contact with an un-embalmed body run the risk of infection. What’s more, flies or other agents can transfer pathogens to humans.
2. Preservation. Prevention of putrefaction and decomposition allows the disposition of remains by burial, cremation, or entombment to take place without odors or other unpleasantness which could accompany unpreserved remains.
3. Restoration. Some people criticize the process of returning the body to a life-like appearance. But the custom of viewing the body after death, while it remains in a state of rest, can help mourners better process their grief.
   

   Embalming Tools

Benefits of Embalming

Embalming is a chemical “fixation” of cell protein. Formaldehyde chemically reacts with soluble albumins in the cell and converts them to albuminoids or gels. Meanwhile, the chemicals in Formaldehyde kill bacteria. This delays decomposition. Once embalming is complete, air-borne bacteria and mold can attack the body.

Embalming Alternatives

To encourage the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives, environmentalists point to harmful embalming chemicals, such as formaldehyde, which seep into the soil around embalmed bodies. With a keen eye on the environment, people want to go green. However, they also want the luxury of time to put funeral plans together and travel, when necessary, after their loved one has died.

Green Alternatives

So, what can you do if you want to go green? From biodegradable coffins to tree-sprouting urns, eco-friendly burials offer a way for those who live green to also die green. Recently, we have covered several alternatives to toxic embalming chemicals. To read about some of these methods, click here or here. That said, we are happy to work with families to make sure they feel comfortable with whatever method they choose after the death of a loved one.

About Foothill Funeral & Cremation

The Green Burial Council, which is the definitive environmental certification organization setting the standard for green burial in North America, has certified Foothill Funeral & Cremation. Regardless of whether your loved one wants to “Go green” in death, we would love to help during your time of need. Give us a call (626) 335-0615 or drop by our Glendora showroom. Our relationship with United Methodist Church is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorials. You’ll love the grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or contact us via email.