St. Petersburg scientists have developed a method for embalming corpses using a sweetener

Thanks to it, the soft tissues of the body retain their vital elasticity.

A solution with special properties for embalming corpses was invented by scientists from the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov. Recently they received a patent from the Russian Federation for their development.

Scientists emphasize that the recipe was developed primarily for educational purposes, to train surgeons. Due to the fact that the tissues of the deceased retain the same elasticity and consistency as during life, future doctors will be able to learn to operate in conditions close to natural.

The most famous way today, as experts say, of using cadaveric material to preserve a state close to natural is freezing in a freezer to a temperature below minus 15°C and then thawing at room temperature 2-3 days before use. But this method has a drawback: freezing does not disinfect the corpse, so dissecting it is unsafe for the health of future doctors and their teachers. There is another way: intraarterial or intravenous injection of formaldehyde solutions. The problem is that formalin, on the one hand, is very toxic, on the other, it deprives the body’s tissues of their natural consistency: the elasticity of the skin, ligaments, tendons, muscles and internal organs is lost. The embalming fluid patented by Russian scientists is free from these disadvantages.

The solution contains ethyl alcohol, glycerin, mannitol (a type of sugar alcohol that is used, in particular, as a sweetener) and three more components, also not as toxic and odorous as formaldehyde. Some components disinfect the corpse, others help preserve tissue. As a result, novice surgeons will be able to learn to operate without fear for their health. However, the solution can also be used for embalming ordinary dead people.