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Embalming history theory and practice chapter 2
Who wrote the history of embalming
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Mortician
What is a mortician? When it comes to this profession, a mortician will have to wear a number of different hats. Morticians work in funeral homes, embalming bodies and actually preparing the service (“Work Environment”). From make up to dress up, they do it all. Morticians go through many obstacles and dedicate so much of their time; these are the reasons why many people would turn away from this occupation (“Work Environment”).
The actual practice of embalming did not surface until the Civil War from 1861-1865, where 600,000 soldiers were killed (McMahon). During this time, Dr. Thomas Holmes was well known and named “Father of Modern Embalming” because he embalmed over 4,000 bodies during the Civil War (McMahon). Dr. Richard Burr, who was also prominent during the civil war era, designed the arterial embalming structure which makes the process easier and faster (McMahon). Both of these men had a large influence during the Civil War movement, but when the war was over the undertakers then took over (McMahon). New things were created, and the embalming process developed quickly later on bringing the study of Mortuary Science (McMahon). The Civil War was the stepping stone for the embalming world, because before the war if someone died, family members were there to prepare the body and most likely keep it in the coldest room of the house (McMahon). With embalming on the rise, ministers felt that it would create a fascination of body over soul (McMahon).
Embalming is an involved process. First and foremost everything is to be removed from the body but even before that is done; they log in what they do have on them, even down to the cuts and bruises (“Mortician”). The mortician then begins to remove hair such as pea...
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...through their rough time. For this profession, good speaking, social perceptiveness, and being an active listener are good skills to have (“Working Conditions”).
Before a person can become a mortician there are certain requirements that need to be reached in order to become an undertaker. The minimum standards are to acquire a high school diploma along with one to two years of mortuary school (“Funeral Directors”). Business and communication courses are suggested to take by benefiting morticians in their careers. The next step in the process is completing an apprenticeship; the internship should last for one to three years and can be completed anytime during the education process. Passing the licensing exam is the next big step for a rising mortician to accomplish; topics covered in the exam are pathology, microbiology, anatomy and much more (“Funeral Directors”).
Morbid Funeral Home, Inc. is an accrual basis taxpayer who sells preneed funeral contracts. Customers pay Morbid in advance for goods and services to be provided at the contract beneficiary’s death. Under state law the payments are refundable if the contract purchaser requests them any time until the goods and services are furnished. Morbid, for both financial and tax accounting purposes, includes the payments in income for the year the funeral service is provided. Morbid insists that the amounts it receives under the contracts are customer deposits. The IRS agent insists that the payments are prepaid income that is subject to tax in the year of receipt.
Introduction: Mary Roach introduces herself ass a person who has her own perspective of death about cadavers. She explains the benefits of cadavers and why they could be used for scientific improvements. She acknowledges the negative perspectives of this ideology.
The article was an enjoyment to read. It provides an insider's view of what goes on in the mortuary, where not many people can access. It deals with a subject which people do not usually seek information on but are nonetheless intrigued by. The style lessens the formality of the subject, which makes it less scary to deal with. The descriptive language is effectively used. The expression of the author's feeling and thoughts encourages empathy from the reader with the author.
Embalming fluid’s main purpose is to slow the decomposition of the dead. Mainly found in morgues and funeral homes. The fluid involves the injection of chemicals into the body through the blood vessels for preservation of the body. The following compounds are found in embalming fluid, formaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol or ethyl alcohol. In embalming fluid products, the percentage of formaldehyde can range from 5 to 29 percent; ethyl alcohol content can vary from 9 to 56 percent. Ethyl alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant.
“In most human society's death is an extremely important cultural and social phenomenon, sometimes more important than birth” (Ohnuki-Tierney, Angrosino, & Daar et al. 1994). In the United States of America, when a body dies it is cherished, mourned over, and given respect by the ones that knew the person. It is sent to the morgue and from there the family decides how the body should be buried or cremated based on...
...d in rural communities and whites lived in the cities. The first African American funeral directors had the challenge of driving long distances, over dirt bumpy country roads in horse-drawn carriages, to care for the white dead at the family home. The dead were laid on a “cooling board” at the family home for the purpose of slowing the deterioration of the body. The funeral director had to provide the ice for the cooling board. In the1920s, blacks started moving into the major industrial cities to obtain good manufacturing jobs. Many were urged to attend mortuary school and start businesses to help bury the increasing urban African American community.
There are numerous specific skills that are required for this profession such as, critical thinking, active listening, good
to take 15 credits in natural science, 13 in social sciences, 13 in business, 14
Imagine yourself as a mortician, certified as an embalmer, retort operator, funeral director, and a funeral cosmetologist. You get a call late at night, there’s been a terrible accident and someone has died. You arrive at the hospital and are directed to a small room where the body of the deceased is being held. There’s blood all over the sheets as the doctor and coronary assistant zip up the body bag and inform you the body was badly mangled in a car accident, which is going to make reconstructing the deceased very difficult. Your assistant puts the body on the stretcher and loads it into the hearse while you talk to the wife of the deceased man. She tells you they plan to have a funeral so you give her your card and a reassuring word before leaving the hospital and driving back to the funeral home. Now your job begins, not only will you have to reconstruct this man’s disfigured body, but you must meet with the family, discuss funeral arrangements, and deal with the family’s emotional trauma that comes with losing a loved one. Although working in the funeral business can be emotionally draining, it’s a satisfying feeling to see mourning families able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Despite the fact that working so closely with the deceased can be chilling, Mortuary science can be a thrilling field to work in.
illogical to some, the reasons for embalming the dead made perfect sense to the Egyptians. Mummification kept corpses in a desiccate, pristine condition; the body must be suitable for the owner’s spirit to return for a rendezvous, as per Egyptian belief (Evans, 20)....
parts and put them together and used a special technique to bring the corpse to
1. Listening skills, such as listening to the client and understanding client needs and wants more carefully and responsively. Acknowledging the feelings they are expressing. Compassionately allowing them to express their feelings. Listening and reflecting back on what I hear allows me to identify client’s thoughts. Listening in the field of social work is crucial in understanding client’s situation. Listening responsibly lets the client know you care about them.
When death occurs, the body is prepared for viewing. People of the same gender prepare the body by laying their “hands across the chest, closing the eyelids, anointing the body with oil, and placing flower garlands around it.” (Leming & Dickinson, 2011, pg. 384). The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid a
Taking biology, chemistry, business, and public speaking classes while in high school is a great help when it comes to getting a degree in mortuary science (collegegrad.com). Communications courses are also helpful to take before going into mortuary science (nfda.org). When going to college for a mortuary science degree, the typical classes to take include: ethics, grief counseling, funeral service, business law, embalming, and restorative techniques (collegegrad.com). The education requirements to become a funeral director are to: have a high school diploma or equivalent; graduation from an accredited program requires the completion of an associate’s degree, the completion of approximately forty-five credits specifically in mortuary science; an internship or apprenticeship ranging from one to three years; and passing a state examination (nfda.org). To take the funeral directing and embalming exam, one must be twenty-one years old, have completed two years in an ABFSE mortuary science program, and serve/have served an apprenticeship lasting one to three years (ibid). The required apprenticeship of one to three years can be completed before, during, or after earning a mortuary science degree (ibid). Funeral directors and embalmers must be licensed in Washington, D.C. and the state where they are employed, with an exception for Colorado
As I have noted, I truly believe that the numerous job skills that are needed to be successful include dedication, communication, and adaptation. First of all, you must be devoted to your career if you want exemplary results. Equally important, being able to articulate your ideas, and intellectually communicate said ideas will ensure a successful time at you occupation. Last but not least, in order to be successful in your employment, you must be flexible to the obstacles that are inevitable. I urge you to strive to obtain these essential job skills because they are worthwhile.