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53
which formalin vapour is generated. The body is placed in the larger
compartment, through which the vapour of formic aldehyde is continuously
circulated by means of an electric fan.
The body within can be readily viewed through glass windows provided
for the purpose. Provision is also made for illuminating the interior of the
chamber by electricity. Arrangement is made for neutralising the formalin
vapour by ammonia before opening the chamber containing the body, thus
avoiding any inconvenience from the fumes given off by the formic aldehyde,
which would otherwise be the case.
This system possesses the following advantages:—
(1) The small initial cost.
(2) The nominal cost of working, and the fact that no skilled supervision
is required.
(3) Whatever the condition of the body therein may be, it can be
viewed without discomfort by the jury, or for purposes of identification
by relatives and others.
As a result of these enquiries the Sanitary Committee endorsed my
recommendation and Dr. De Rechter's apparatus was provided. It was used
for the first time on 16th March, when the body of an unknown man
(drowned), that had been received at the mortuary on the 10th March and
been the subject of a post-mortem examination on the 12th March, was
placed therein. At the end of seven weeks, the body being then in a good
state of preservation, was removed to the mortuary, where it remained in
good condition without further treatment until the 16th June.
Inasmuch as the time limit, viz., one month, for which it is usually
necessary to preserve a body for the purpose of identification, was greatly
exceeded, this experiment showed that the apparatus fully answers all
requirements.