Thomas Holmes

Dr. Thomas Holmes (1817-1899) was a mortician who is often thought of as the "father of American embalming".

Childhood

He was born in New York City in 1817 to a wealthy merchant. During his childhood he became interested in the medical profession, and (although records from the time are vague and incomplete) is believed to have graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in 1845. His name appears variously in several New York City directories under listings as a Physician and Surgeon from 1847 onwards.

Academics

While at university, Holmes had become concerned with methods of preservation used on cadavers for anatomical study. He complained that preservation was either improperly rendered, ineffectual, or not attempted at all. He also thought that the preservatives used at the time (arsenic-, mercury-, and zinc-based compounds) were injurious to the health of the medical students performing dissections. Later, whilst studying under a phrenologist, he had the opportunity to examine the heads of a number of Egyptian mummies, and concluded that embalming could be achieved without the use of hazardous compounds.

Experimentation

Immediately prior to the American Civil War, Holmes experimented with arterial embalming based on the earlier work of Mons. Gannal of Paris. Through this experimentation, he developed an arterial solution, which went on to be manufactured commercially and was sold for $3.00 per gallon, and injection apparatus.

Practice

During the Civil War, Dr. Holmes embalmed Union soldiers and officers as a means of preservation so that the remains could be shipped back to their families. He personally claimed to have embalmed, "4028 soldiers and officers, field and staff", although some believe this figure to be inflated.

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