274 2jootogtcai Proceedings of Societies, 



than natural, and the remains of a sac were found connected with 

 the left ovarium, all which, in conjunction with the appearance 

 of the abdominal integuments, leave no doubt of ovarian dropsy 

 having been the disease under which the individual suffered. 

 — Judging from the excavation out of which the Mummy was 

 taken, and according to the best authorities of the present day 

 on Egyptian Antiquities, the period at which the woman lived 

 must have been about three thousand years ago. 



The author concludes this communication with some observa- 

 tions respecting the method of embalming practised by the an- 

 cient Egyptians, and the nature of the substances employed in the 

 process; from the details of which, in conjunction with the re- 

 sults of his own researches and experiments, as well synthetical 

 as analytical, he draws the conclusions following : 



That the abdominal viscera were more or less perfectly ab- 

 stracted, either through an incision on one side of the abdomen, 

 or, as in the present Mummy, through the anus. The thoracic 

 cavity was not disturbed. That the contents of the cranium were 

 removed ; sometimes through the nostrils, and at others through 

 oqe of the orbits. The body was then probably covered with 

 quicklime to facilitate the removal of the cuticle, the scalp and 

 nails being however left untouched; after which it was immersed 

 in a melted mixture of bees*-wax, resin, and bitumen, until 

 thoroughly penetrated ; and, ultimately, subjected to a tanning 

 liquor, probably made with the saline water of the neighbouring 

 iiatron lakes: the bandages were then applied, with the occa- 

 sional interposition of melted resin, or wax and resin, the lumps 

 of resin, myrrh, &c. having been previously placed in the 

 abdomen. 



In order fully to establish these conclusions respecting the 

 mummifying process, Dr. Granville had prepared several imita- 

 tive mummies by its means; some of which bore the closest re- 

 semblance to the Egyptian, and had withstood putrefaction for 

 upwards of three years, though exposed to the vicissitudes of a 

 variable climate without any covering, or other precautionary 

 measure. None of the substances used appear to be sufficient, 

 either singly or conjointly, without the wax, to preserve the body, 

 or convert it into a perfect mummy : and one of the nates of the 



