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Page A24
OCTOBER 2014
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on A
John A. Chew is a Funeral Service Education Specialist, Consul-
tant, Tutor, Thanatogeneticist, and a Licensed Funeral Director and
Embalmer. He is a retired former Associate Professor and Director
of Funeral Service Education at Miami Dade Community College as
well as the Institute for Funeral Service Education and Anatomy at
Lynn University (1967-1997). He is presently Director of Education
at Embalmers Supply Company, Recinto De Ciecias, Medicic, UPR,
ESCO/OMEGA, and the Academy of Restoration and Embalming.
By John A. Chew
Embalming is defined as the disinfecting, preserving and
restoration of the dead human body to a natural form and
color. Sanibalming is the primary purpose of the embalm-
ing process. Embalming is a temporary process which pre-
vents, retards and controls postmortem changes (decom-
position).
Sanibalming interacts with intrinsic and extrinsic mi-
crobial agents and their enzymatic products. It also pro-
vides neutralization for the body’s normal enzymes which
at death activate the autolysis (self-digestion) process.
Embalming bi-passes the rotting stages of decomposi-
tion and allows for an eventual body breakdown through
oxidation and dissolution. Oxidation is a combination of
oxygen with the loss of one or more electrons. Dissolution
is a separation of compounds.
Decomposition is an overall description of a series of
processes which occurs within the body’s components af-
ter death. The body is made up of elements combined to
form compounds, which combine to form the basic struc-
tural unit of the body -- the cell.
Cells combine to form tissues and tissues combine to
form organs which ultimately combine to form the sys-
tems of the body. The tripod of life is formed by three in-
terrelated systems -- nervous, circulatory and the respira-
tory systems. They, in turn, support eight other systems
and those are dependent on the tripod of life.
The tripod is so interdependent that if any part dies, the
others are soon to follow. This activates a reverse process.
The systems break down, followed by the tissues, the cells
and the compounds until the body reverts back to the ele-
ments. What was the tripod of life becomes the tripod of
death.
An example:
To build a protein molecule:
Aspects of
Applied
Embalming
Theory
(Part 1)
d)
Intestines
e)
Spleen
f)
Mesentery
g)
Liver
h)
Adult Brain
i)
Heart
j)
Lungs
k)
Kidneys
l)
Urinary Bladder
m)
Esophagus
n)
Pancreas
o)
Diaphragm
p)
Blood Vessels
q)
Non-pregnant Uterus
• Visual Signs
a)
Color
b)
Odor
c)
Gas
d)
Purge
e)
Skin Slip (desquamation)
Briefly we have previewed the life and death processes
which will influence those changes and which will have an
impact on the process of disinfection, preservation and res-
toration. This understanding will provide the practitioner
with that knowledge necessary to prepare a dead body for
the funeralization process.
The inanimate environment surrounding the handling
and care of the dead human body may be the growing men-
ace of the decade. Sanitation of our everyday surroundings
may be our only defense.
Sanitary maintenance of the preparation facilities should
be paramount in creating a safe working environment.
With nosocomial infections increasing at an alarming rate
within medical facilities, we as funeral service practitioners
must take upon ourselves to create and maintain a healthful
safe working environment.
Part 2 will deal with creating a safe working environment
and the sequence of operational procedures for embalming.
Study the above chart which builds a protein molecule from
top to bottom. Reverse the process and study from the bottom
to the top and you will have the breakdown of the protein mol-
ecule back to its element. This breakdown is a decomposition
process known as putrefaction.
• Element - a simple substance which cannot be decomposed by
chemical means.
• Component - a constituent element or part.
• Compound - a substance made up of two or more materials.
• Amine - an organic compound containing nitrogen.
• Amino Acid - One of a class of organic compounds containing
amino and carboxyl group.
• Protein - a group of complex organic compounds containing
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and Sulfur.
• Decomposition - the sum total of a number of processes;
• Lipolysis - breakdown of fats.
• Fermentation - breakdown of carbohydrates.
• Saccharolysis - breakdown of sugars
• Putrefaction - breakdown of protein (rotting, decay)
• Autolysis - self-digestion by bodies own enzymes.
• Saponification - breakdown and transformation of fatty tissue
in a wet environment into grave wax or adipocere (greasy soapy
substance).
• Maceration - breakdown in a liquid medium.
ANATOMICAL DECOMPOSITION FOLLOWS SEQUENTIALLY
• Histologically - cells, tissues and organs
• Specific tissues:
a)
Liquid - blood and lymph
b)
Soft - parenchyma functional elements of the organs.
c)
Firm - muscles and supporting matrix of organs
d)
Hard - cartilage and bone
• Compound Sequence
a)
Carbohydrates
b)
Proteins
c)
Fats
d)
Firm Protein (connective tissues) (can af beer)
e)
Bone (Non Responsive tissue to formaldehyde during process)
• Organ sequential order
a)
Linings of the larynx and trachea
b)
Infant Brain
c)
Stomach
ELEMENTS
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Sulfur
C
H
N
O
S
COMPOUNDS
Carbon dioxide Hydrogen sulfate Ammonia Water Hydrogen
CO2
H2S
NH3
H2O
H
AMINES
AMINO ACID
PROTEIN
Christopher Pryor Honored During
Celebration of Heroes
Christopher F. Pryor
DAYTON,OH—
Christopher F. Pryor
was among the honorees during the in-
augural
Celebration of Heroes
awards din-
ner held at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in Canton last month.
Eugene Minni-
field, Sr.,
of
Minnifield Funeral Home
along with
Cutt Team LLC.,
a Cleve-
land, Ohio-based volunteer service orga-
nization and host of the Celebration of
Heroes, nominated Pryor
citing his history of excel-
lence in embalming, busi-
ness leadership and self-
empowerment.
At a very young age,
Christopher showed as-
pirations of becoming a
funeral director and em-
balmer. Christopher en-
tered Knoxville College,
and then went on to the
University of Cincinnati
studying business and sci-
ence courses. He entered
the
Cincinnati College
of Mortuary Science
and
served as a morgue attendant. He gained
valuable experience working at the
Ren-
fro Funeral Home
in Cincinnati under
the direction of
Julian Renfro.
Christo-
pher graduated in the fall of 1994 with
Associate of Science and Bachelor of Sci-
ence degrees in Mortuary Science.
Prior to entering college, while attending
college, and upon graduation, Christo-
pher worked as a funeral apprentice under
the guidance and direction of
Clarence
Bowman, Bowman Funeral Chapel
and
Mr. Wayne A. Wheat
of
House of Wheat
Funeral Home,
both of Dayton. In 2004
Christopher decided it was time to step
out and provide embalming services for
funeral homes, thus
Pryor Embalming
Service
began. He has developed a strong
relationship with funeral homes both lo-
cally and statewide. As a result, Pryor Em-
balming Service has provided services for
dignitaries and celebrities, as well as their
families. Christopher is also employed as a
Pathology technician at the Dayton Veter-
ans Administration Medi-
cal Center.
Christopher felt the need
to give back to the profes-
sion that blessed him. In
response to the need by lo-
cal directors to remain cur-
rent in the field, Christo-
pher began organizing and
presenting seminars and
workshops for licensed fu-
neral directors and em-
balmers. The Board of
Embalmers and Funeral
Directors of Ohio have en-
dorsed these seminars and
use them as a tool, garner-
ing input regarding topics relevant to the
field, in which funeral directors wish to be
informed. These seminars provide valu-
able networking opportunities and essen-
tial information regarding current trends
in the field. Seeing a need to nurture and
encourage young African American stu-
dents in this field, Christopher has certi-
fication as a Master Trainer for students
entering mortuary science careers.
Serving as the only independent African
American crematory in the state of Ohio,
Christopher will open the doors to
Great-
er Dayton Crematory Service
in Novem-