Today’s Carefully Preserved Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
The Romans practiced cremation up until AD 200, when it began to fall out of favor. Under the influence of Christianity, which emphasized the physical resurrection of the body, the first wooden coffins were introduced. Christian burial rites, derived from Judaic law, included washing the corpse before burial and anointing it with oils. Once the corpse had been washed, and the orifices plugged to prevent leakage, it was wrapped in a shroud. The belief persisted that a body must be entire for resurrection on Judgement Day, so, when possible, items such as missing teeth and even amputated limbs were carefully preserved and buried with the corpse.
Roman wooden coffin
Traditionally, bodies went on display for at least two days before burial, so that mourners could pay their last respects, and the important practice of ‘watching’, also derived from ancient Jewish ritual, might be observed. ‘Watching’ also seemed to develop from a natural reluctance to leave the dead person to whom so much care had been devoted during their final hours. [Just a wild guess, but maybe ‘watching’ also derived from a natural reluctance to bury people alive? – DeSpair]
Culled from: Necropolis: London and Its Dead
Vintage Medical Illustration Du Jour!
A female patient with unilateral ichthyosis, covering her abdomen, shoulders, neck, elbow, hand and thigh.
Culled from: The Sick Rose
Andersonville Prisoner Diary Entry Du Jour!
This is the continuation of the 1864 diary of Andersonville prisoner Private George A. Hitchcock (see the archived version for all entries up until now).
Here’s today’s entry:
June 25th. Very hot. Rations of raw meal and meat, but no wood to cook them with, so we eat our meat raw. I had a good wash at the creek to-day, though without soap. Rows in camp are increasing, and it presents a scene like a second Babel.
Culled from: Andersonville: Giving Up the Ghost