The second module out of four. Part of a research study for my thesis work called A Good Death. The work was is an ongoing project that begun as part of my MFA studies at Parsons the New School for Design.

1. FROM THE
SOCIAL
TO THE
METHODOLOGICAL
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2. IN THE SOCIAL:
Morticians (Funeral Directors)
Executioners
Coroner
Suiciders
Embalmers
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3. EMBALMING
The art and science of temporarily preserving human
remains to make them suitable for public display at a
funeral. Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural
history, with many cultures giving the embalming
processes a greater religious meaning.
EMBALMERS
Have been trained in the art and science of embalming
and may not have any contact with the family,
Embalming training commonly involves formal study in:
Anatomy: A branch of biology and medicine that
considers the structure of living things.
Thanatology : The scientific study of death.
Chemistry : The science of matter, especially its chemical
reactions, but also its composition, structure and
properties.
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4. THE HISTORY
Embalming has been recorded in
history as far back as the Egyptians.
Back in those days, only the wealthy
were embalmed or mummified as it
was known then. Over the years the
procedure has changed many times to
what we now know as modern day
embalming.
In addition, the Incas and other
cultures of Peru, carried out
embalming rituals, as they lived in a
climate which favored a form of
mummification.
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5. THE HISTORY
In 1867, the German chemist August
Wilhelm von Hofmann discovered
formaldehyde. It’s preservative
properties were soon discovered and
became the foundation for modern
methods of embalming, replacing
previous methods based on alcohol
and salts.
Embalming is distinct from taxidermy.
Embalming preserves the human body
intact, whereas taxidermy is the
recreation of an animal's form often
using only the creature's skin mounted
on an anatomical form.
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6. WHY?
Embalming is primarily done to
disinfect and preserve the remains of
the body. Disinfection is important for
all who have to handle the remains, and
for the public safety.
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7. THE METHODS
> Gravity-feed embalming: used for Embalming for anatomy education. No drainage.
> Arterial embalming: Blood is displaced by injecting the chemicals and drainage occurs.
> Hypodermic embalming: injection of embalming chemicals into tissue with a hypodermic
needle and syringe.
> Embalming autopsy: Different from standard embalming because the nature of the
post-mortem examination disrupts the circulatory system, due to the removal of the organs. In
these cases, a six-point injection is made.
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8. THE CHEMICALS
> Formaldehyde, Also called Methanal.
> Glutaraldehyde
> Ethanol, also called pure alcohol
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9. THE PROCESS
> The first step in the embalming process is
to wash off any waste, bodily fluids, or other
materials on the body. Then the muscles are
massaged to get rid of stiffness, called rigor
mortis, which can make it difficult to move
the body.
> The next step is to set the features,
making them impossible to move later on.
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10. THE PROCESS
> Injection of embalming chemicals into the
blood vessels, usually via the right common
carotid artery. (Single-point injection)
> The embalmer massages the body to
break up circulatory clots as to ensure the
proper distribution of the embalming fluid.
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11. THE PROCESS
> The embalming process continues with a
small cut above the navel. The mortician
inserts a tube into the abdomen through the
cut. A pump is attached to the tube, and the
contents of the stomach and intestines are
pumped out.
> The body is stitched closed.
* A typical embalming takes several hours to
complete.
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12. GROOMING
> The body is re washed and dried.
> Observation by the embalmer.
> Cosmetics (a photo of the deceased in good
health is often used for reference)
> Baby powder is applied to eliminate odor.
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13. CLOTHING
> The outfits used to be very formal
for both female and male
> In recent years, a change has
occurred and many individuals are
now buried in less formal clothing.
> After the deceased has been
dressed, they are placed in the casket
(coffin).
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14. NOTABLE
EMBALMINGS
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15. NOTABLE
EMBALMINGS
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16. SUSTAINABLE
DEATH?
Green burial: How to turn a
human body into compost?
“Dying to Do the Right Thing”
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17. GLOSSARY
Cadaver: A corpse, also called a cadaver in medical literary and legal
usage or when intended for dissection, is a dead human body.
Thanatology: The scientific study of death. It investigates the
mechanisms and forensic aspects of death, such as bodily changes
that accompany death and the post-mortem period, as well as wider
social aspects related to death. It is primarily an interdisciplinary
study offered as a course of study at numerous colleges and
universities.
Skeletonization: Refers to one of the final stages of decomposition,
during which time the last of the soft tissues of a corpseor have
decayed or dried to the point that the bones of the skeleton are
exposed.
Synthetic Biology: A new area of biological research and technology
that combines science and engineering. The common goal is the
design and construction of new biological functions and systems not
found in nature.
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