Preparing the Deceased: Embalming
Embalming in the United States of America became prevalent during the Civil War. Soldiers frequently died far from home and the families wanted their dead returned to them for final services. Lack of refrigeration and reliable long distance transport during the war made return of the deceased problematic. Embalming corpses at battlefield camps provided a way to stabilize the corpses for transport. The most well known viewing of an embalmed corpse in that era probably occurred after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and his body was displayed during a funeral procession from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, IL.
The process of embalming is fairly simple. First, the corpse is thoroughly washed, measures are taken to minimize skin lesions, blisters, etc. by disinfection, and all orifices are packed with cotton batting that saturated with a preservative solution, or a cavity embalming solution. Body fluids are removed and replaced with disinfecting and preserving chemicals. It takes two to four hours for a specially trained and licensed practitioner to complete the entire job.
The embalming fluid transfer process consists of selecting an artery through which to inject embalming solution. There are many commercial solutions available, but the the vast majority are based upon a mixture of formaldehyde and methanol (methyl alcohol). After four to six pints of the fluid have been injected to thin the blood, the draining of the mixture begins from a vein. At first, the blood coming out is thick, but as the preservative works it’s way through the body, the blood becomes thinner.
This process does not treat the internal organs very well. Cavity embalming is done by inserting a trocar (a large diameter tube with a pointed end) just above the navel and through the diaphragm and into the chest. The trocar is attached to a vacuum source and when inserted, it pierces the internal organs. Loose tissue, fluids, gases and debris are removed by the vacuum. Embalming fluids are then put into the abdomen and chest through the trocar. Any incisions that have been made are then closed with sutures, and the body is washed once more. This is the basic process used for human remains that have not been damaged or disfigured.
In Maine, only a licensed Funeral Practitioner or a trainee under the supervision of a licensed Funeral Practitioner may embalm human remains.
from Maine Death Care