Directions for the Care of Ordinary Cases.
To handle and preserve an ordinary case in warm weather, when the body
is only to be kept one or two days, the undertaker will find my process
very much easier than any of the old methods (in fact not half the
work). In a case of this kind (as the ice-box or icing is done away with
or omitted), all the undertaker has to do is to lay the body out, with
the head from ten to twelve inches higher than the feet (_the higher the
head the better_), and inject with the Syringe, using the large bent
tube, say one-half of a pint of the Preservative into the nose or mouth,
which will immediately run down the throat into the lungs and stomach,
and prevent any fermentation or decay of any substance that may be in
them. The body should be raised up in the sitting posture if there is
any difficulty in injecting down the throat.
Then wet a large cloth (_a large towel is the best_,) with the
Preservative and lay it over the chest and abdomen. This should be kept
wet with the Preservative from four to eight hours, the longer the
better; also wet cloths with the Preservative and lay over the face and
hands. Be particular to press the cloth down well around the eyes, ears
and neck. This effectually prevents any discoloration, or if it has
already turned dark, the complexion will be restored as white as in
life.
These cloths should also be kept wet with the Preservative from four to
six hours, and even longer in some cases; this is all very quickly done,
and easy to do by any one after they once understand it.
Now leave the body in this position on the inclined board for about 18
to 24 hours, when it can be dressed and placed in the casket. The cloths
can now be removed from the face during the day, but should be replaced
during the night and be kept wet with the Preservative, as a certain
preventative against discoloration.
The undertaker can leave orders with the friends to wet these cloths and
lay them over the face at night, thus saving himself the trouble of
going back to look after it.
Remember, it is always best to let the body lie in the inclined position
about 24 hours before placing it in the casket, and if kept in the
casket over night the foot end of the casket should be lowered during
the night-time in order that the inclined position of the body may be
retained.