Embalming Fluid

Embalming is a process that helps conserve a dead human body for a temporary period. It helps in displaying the body at a public funeral without looking too disturbing to the people who come to pay their last respects. Embalming fluid is used for sanitization, presentation and preservation of the body. It contains many chemicals that help achieve the above three processes. In the following paragraphs, we shall understand how this process works in the temporary preservation of a corpse. Although the subject sounds too disturbing, the process is mandatory by law in many countries.

What is it?
Embalming fluid is made up of different agents that help in disinfecting, sanitizing and preservation of a body. This cocktail of chemical agents helps in preventing the decomposition of the body for a temporary period of time. It also helps making the body appear natural after death. Most of the time, it is used to preserve the body till the funeral ceremony is complete. In rare cases, it is also used to preserve the body indefinitely.

Chemicals in it
We are talking about chemicals that make up the fluid. But, which are these chemicals that are used to preserve a dead body? It is generally made up of the following chemicals:

• Formaldehyde (5 to 29%)
• Methanol (9 to 56%)
• Ethanol
• Other solvents

How is the it Injected in the Body
Embalming helps prevention of natural decomposition of the body, especially till the religious and ceremonial rites are completed. The fluid used helps in slowing down the process of decomposition. This process is slowed down to the extent till all the last rites of the deceased are completed. Many times, people need to give the dead more natural looking appearance. This is because the people who come to pay the last respects can view the body as it would look naturally. Open casket funerals will make the bodies decompose really fast. Thus, it helps prevent decomposition and keep the body looking as natural as possible. But, how does one inject the fluid into a dead body?

A professional embalmer is called upon to carry out the process. The embalmer after completing the required paper formalities, takes the body to the funeral home for embalming. The embalmer places little cotton between the eye and eyelid for closing the eyes. Eye caps are placed on each eye ball and the mouth is closed with the help of a suture string. After completing all the process that help improve the overall look of the body, the embalmer begins with arterial embalming. It is injected into an artery and the blood is drained from a vein. A syringe is used to inject the chemicals in different parts of the body. After the fluid is injected into the body, the tubes are removed and the veins are tied.

Next, the embalmer begins cavity embalming. The fluids in the internal organs of the abdomen and thoracic cavity are suctioned out. This is down after making a puncture in the stomach, bladder, lungs and even the large intestine. All the gases and fluids present in the organs are drained out. Then a strong mixture of formaldehyde is injected into the body's torso. The body and hair are washed clean to remove any fluid present on the body. Make up is applied on the face, hands and neck. The body is made to wear clothes given by the family and laid into the casket.

How does it Work
Now, coming to the main question, how does the fluid work? The fluid begins to denature the cellular proteins. This prevents bacteria from using these cellular proteins as their source of food. Also, the chemical present kill most of the bacteria that causes decomposition of the body. The tissue cells are fixed with the help of formaldehyde that helps in giving an appearance as if blood is flowing under the skin.

Many times the funeral homes need to preserve the body for several days, till the process of viewing is complete. Hope the above information has helped you understand the process of embalming in short.