These remarkable Italian mummies have been preserved almost perfectly 200 years ago for medical demonstrations.
Giovan Battista Rini stripped away the skin to show the muscles, airways and blood vessels inside the heads.
Academics have now discovered the specimens were injected with arsenic and mercury - or dipped in chemical baths to preserve them for research.
This skull had the skin stripped away and has been injected with chemicals to keep it fresh for more than 200 years
Although mummification is associated with Ancient Egypt, it was carried out through the centuries for the benefit of researchers and medical students.
The specimens have false hair and teeth and their eye caps have been added artificially. However, they are otherwise remarkably well looked after.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...lian-mummies-preserved-mercury-200-years.html
Giovan Battista Rini stripped away the skin to show the muscles, airways and blood vessels inside the heads.
Academics have now discovered the specimens were injected with arsenic and mercury - or dipped in chemical baths to preserve them for research.
This skull had the skin stripped away and has been injected with chemicals to keep it fresh for more than 200 years
Although mummification is associated with Ancient Egypt, it was carried out through the centuries for the benefit of researchers and medical students.
The specimens have false hair and teeth and their eye caps have been added artificially. However, they are otherwise remarkably well looked after.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...lian-mummies-preserved-mercury-200-years.html
