Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: paul.fr on 20/05/2007 21:09:56

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: paul.fr on 20/05/2007 21:09:56

People will often have their pet stuffed after death, so i just wonder. Is it possible to preserve a human through stuffing / taxidermy?

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: JimBob on 20/05/2007 21:47:38

Yes


There is some college or university in Merry Old England whose founder (or a famous professor?) was stuffed. The body was used at a yearly Regent's meeting or some festival. It has been many years since I ran across this. I need my memory refreshed. If someone across the pond knows the location and name of the remains, Please post. I think the head with a boater type hat is all that is extant.



Also in Spain - "In the end, it was time the Bushman of Banyoles went home, way past time. The city fathers of this town in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia finally let him go, following years of embarrassment the stuffed African warrior had caused. Plus, they got something in return. It all started back in 1830 when two French naturalists, the Verreaux brothers, dug up the body of a recently deceased bushman near the South African city of Cape Town, dried him out and stuffed him with straw. They took the grisly souvenir back to Paris and put it on display. "

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: another_someone on 20/05/2007 21:49:07

Technically, I see no reason why it would not be possible, but I am not sure that in this country that would be legal (I suspect there are some legal requirements about appropriate burial, which is why you can't bury your dearly beloved in your own back garden).

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: paul.fr on 20/05/2007 21:53:18

Excellent JimBob and George. So is it just the same process as, cats say? By the way George, it was not a dearly beloved i had in mind!  [;)]

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: JimBob on 20/05/2007 22:08:32

Jeremy Bentham


I found him!

Jeremy Bentham
University College Lobby, London, England
Utilitarian philosopher, died 1832, requested in his will to be preserved and displayed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham

You also have other preserved parts - and this doesn't count medical school collections.

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: Karen W. on 21/05/2007 00:03:44

OOOH how well does the flesh hold up in a human as compared to a animal??

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: JimBob on 21/05/2007 01:54:32

Ask Jeremy  [::)]

Title: taxidermy - can you stuf a human?
Post by: Bored chemist on 21/05/2007 20:31:30

I realise it's a lousy source of information but on the telly the other day some bloke in a detective story had his late mother or wife (sorry, I can't recall which) stuffed in a case upstairs. As he said to one of the police "it's al perfectly legal".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/crime/dalziel/