BETTER THAN CREMATION.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1210, 11 September 1874, Page 4

BETTER THAN CREMATION.

A short time ago we (Otago Times) were shown a sample called adipocere, which is now made useful in a variety of ways. As it is probable that five persons out of ten do not know what adipocere is, it may be as well to state that it is a substance of a peculiar nature, being something intermediate

between f';it and wax, and is formed by the placing of animal bodies in water or moist ground. It was first discovered in 178G by M. Foureroy, at a time when a large cemetery in Paris was being removed. It was then found that; the hundreds of thousands of human bodies that had been buried there had turned into adipocere, which, when analysed, proved to consist of a large quantity of raagaric acid, and a small quantity of oleic acid, combined with a little ammonia, potash, and lime. The adipocere to which our attention was called was obtained by burying the bodies of sheep in moist ground, and it is said to be of great value in wool scouring. It. is also said to make good caudles. With reference to the making of candles from adipocere, we lately heard a good story. A smart Yankee, who did not see any opening for himself at home, started forEussia, and visited some of the fields where the great battles between the Russians and the allied troops had taken place. He found that his surmises were correct, and that the bodies of the slain had turned into adipocere. He made arrangements to purchase the right to remove the stuff, and not many mouths afterwards piii it in the Euglish market in the shape of candies.