To Save a Corpse from Decomposition - the Purpose of Petrification in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Marta Licata; Chiara Rossetti; Chiara Tesi; Omar Larentis; Roberta Fusco; Rosagemma Ciliberti

doi:10.5644/ama2006-124.275

To Save a Corpse from Decomposition - the Purpose of Petrification in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Acta Med Acad. 2019 Dec;48(3):328-331. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.275.

Authors

Marta Licata¹, Chiara Rossetti², Chiara Tesi², Omar Larentis², Roberta Fusco², Rosagemma Ciliberti³

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. marta.licata@uninsubria.it.
² Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
³ Section of Forensic Medicine and Bioethics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.

PMID: 32124633
DOI: 10.5644/ama2006-124.275

Abstract

We present this interesting note on the petrification of corpses, published in 1890 in the Italian Journal of Natural Sciences. After a brief review of the oldest forms of embalming, the author, Michele Martone, presents petrification as the only way to obtain the perfect conservation of the corpse. CONCLUSION: This scientific note presents some considerations regarding the constant search of humanity to arrest, if not the death of a person, the decomposition of their body.

Keywords: Italian Journal of Natural Sciences; Michele Martone; Petrification of the Corpse.

Publication types

Historical Article

MeSH terms

Attitude to Death
Cadaver
Embalming / history*
History, 19th Century
Humans
Italy