embalming

[ethandron]

we were having one of those conversations in the car this morning and disagreed on whether or not people who choose burial are always embalmed. or are people usually buried unembalmed. anyone know?

[campbellking]

Most people are, but there are some exceptions, for example, those having a woodland burial (as my Dad did earlier this year).

[karenmac60]

I'm not sure, but I think some religions prohibit it - orthodox Jews for one.

[Mosaic]

I don't think Moslems do it, unless deceased is being transported abroad for burial.

[ethandron]

i was thinking more in terms of the general population rather than religeon specific requirements. all our relatives and friends who have died have been cremated so it's never been an issue or a question that needed asking or answering.
i had assumed that people weren't embalmed unless for some reason they particularly wanted to be preserved, whereas my other half thought exactly the opposite.

[sandyRoe]

I once helped carry a coffin where the corpse hadn't been embalmed. I wish he had been. There was a powerful pong.

[karenmac60]

http://swindon.gov.uk...remationembalming.htm

[ethandron]

interesting, thanks for the link karen. doesn't exactly answer my question..

[campbellking]

One of my best friends worked at an undertakers, and, as stated before, most people are embalmed as the body will decompose to some extent otherwise even when kept in the fridge. Also, at this time of year, the death rate is quite high, but fewer funerals are carried out over the Christmas period, so bodies have to be stored for a little longer before a funeral spot becomes available.

[ann_h]

my father was embalmed before a cremation - I requested this, otherwise they would have put him in a sealed coffin as there is usually a week's waiting list for the funeral. My mother could not be embalmed as she had donated corneas and skin for the donor register, and also had a 5-day wait for postmortem thanks to bank holidays.
I think it's an "extra" that they will do if required and/or appropriate, if an open coffin etc.

[hc4361]

It is not necessary unless the body is to be viewed some days after the death.
Many undertakers call it 'hygiene treatment' or 'cosmetic treatment'.
Good information here, especially the disposal of the removed body fluids (down the sewer).
http://www.richmond.g.../viewing_the_body.htm

[mrs_overall]

We have an funeral directing business on one side of the family.
The only time a body MUST be embalmed is if it is going abroad and there are strict rules on how it is embalmed.
Otherwise it is entirely a personal choice. The funeral director will ask if "hygenic treatment" is required.
If a body is going to be viewed, then embalming is highly recommended as decompostion starts immediately after death.
A body can be embalmed whether there has been a post mortem or not.

[gingejbee]

On Jeremy Vine's R2 show (yesterday?) they were discussing an alternative to burial and cremation. It involves dissolving the body in a hot solution of potassium hydroxide (very caustic) for a few hours; the resultant greeny-brown liquid can be poured down the drain. What a way to go!

[ethandron]

ooh err, thanks for the replies.
personally, i'd like to be hung up in the tree tops and allow nature to do the rest. don't think the neighbours would like it though..

[LoftyLottie]

I would love to see my neighbour hanging in the tree tops and being eaten by wildlife Eth!! grrrrrrr - he has made our life hell!

[ethandron]

i'd like to see one of our neighbours in a similar situation too lottie :o)

[Ankou]

as said above really. embalmers prepare the bodies of dead people before their funeral. embalming is carried out to preserve the body from the time of death until the funeral, to present the body in a natural, lifelike way and to prevent any infection spreading to relatives and funeral staff.

[whiskeryron]

Ankou, ''embalming is carried out to preserve the body'' Any chance of getting this done whilst alive but getting old rapidly ?

[ethandron]

that's a good idea whiskeryron.
for anyone interested, i found this site with some interesting information:
http://www.deathcare....pens-after-death.html

[Sqad]

whiskeyron........LOL

<<<''embalming is carried out to preserve the body''<<<

Unfortunately it is the "dead" body.

Nice try though.

[honky-tonk]

Embalming is part of the service that the funereal directors do, i have arranged 2 funereals and was never given a choice about hygenic services.