Embalming: The How and Why

To Embalm means just that - em (to cause) balm (spices). Embalming has been around since almost the beginning of time. Jacob’s (Israel’s) embalming is recorded in Genesis Ch 50. It became popular in the United States during the Civil War because soldiers could be sent home instead of being buried in the battlefield. Abraham Lincoln was the first US President to be embalmed and his body was taken on ‘tour’ over 1650 miles. This popularized embalming as people could see the state his body was in even days after his death.

Embalming has not always been as we know it today. It has ranged from simply anointing the body to the complex rituals of wealthy Egyptians. Today’s process is known as arterial embalming. Thomas Holmes is known as the Father of American Embalming and introduced the process of arterial embalming. The blood of the vascular system is replaced with embalming fluid which contains dyes, humectants, surfactants, and small amounts of formalin – the liquid form of the gaseous formaldehyde. Some chemical companies have replaced formalin, which has its drawbacks, with gluteraldehyde.

Here is a very simplified rundown of the process:

• 1. The facial features such as mouth and eyes are positioned
• 2. A major artery (usually the Carotid first) is raised above the skin
• 3. An accompanying vein (ie the Jugular) is raised
• 4. Fluid is injected (pumped) into the artery and the vein is incised to allow drainage
• 5. Fluid distribution is observed and other arteries are injected if needed
• 6. Incision are sutured

During this process the hair and body are washed and the fingernails are cleaned, etc.

After arterial embalming is completed, cavity embalming begins. A long tube known as a trocar is inserted into the Thoracic (chest) and Abdominopelvic Cavities and any fluids or gases that may be present are aspirated or removed via suction. Then a strong concentrated fluid is distributed throughout the cavities. There have been times in history that only cavity embalming was done and times when only arterial embalming was done.

The benefits of embalming are numerous: It puts color back into the skin, it slows decomposition, it disinfects, and it restores a more natural appearance. Though there is no federal law that requires embalming, most (if not all) funeral homes require it in the case of a public viewing. The real value of embalming however, is unseen. I could write pages and pages about the importance of viewing the body of a friend or family member.

“Dr. Erich Lindemann, a pioneer in the study of grief management…postulates that avoidance of the dead body is always done at the psychological peril of the aggrieved, and that this avoidance may appear at first to be consoling in the initial phase of acute grief. But in truth [this] is just an illusion. In time, the necessity to view the body becomes a major issue in postbereavement care.” Mayer, Robert. Embalming. McGraw-Hill Medical, 2006. pp 7-8. Print.

Author, poet, and funeral director, Thomas Lynch says: “remembering him the way he was…begins by denying with the way he is. When someone dies, it is not them we fear seeing, it is them dead. We fear that seeing will be believing.” Lynch, Thomas. Bodies in Motion and at Rest. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. Print.

Embalming can cost anywhere from $250 to $800 and can be more if the person was autopsied. Surprisingly, most funeral homes lose money on the embalming process. The general public does not seem to understand the true value of embalming, and since embalming is not required for certain services such as cremation and direct burial without public viewing, funeral homes fear that raising the price to much better cover the cost will steer people away from the option.

FAQ: Are the Organs Removed During Embalming?

No, Embalming utilizes the circulatory system and is done with as small of incisions as possible. A pathologist will remove organs during an autopsy, but they are kept with the body and buried/cremated.

Lincoln's Body:

Civil War embalming photos: