State Agricultural Society. 181 



ant sanitary invention ever produced, and the only one ever patented 

 for that purpose. 



From principle I am a strong advocate of cremation, which will in 

 time become universal, but the popular indignation over a proposition to 

 burn the dead will not subside during the present generation; conse- 

 quently the laws ot' health immediately demand some means to obviate 

 that most pernicious evil of depositing in charnel vaults human bodies 

 subject to decomposition above ground, which this combination com- 

 pletely overcomes, as the promptings to this investigation have ever 

 been a desire to do the greatest good to mankind. I therefore offer, as 

 a California invention, all the accredited results of my humble labor, for 

 which her recognition, through your honorable society's gold medal, 

 would ever remain most truly respected. 



Next in order comes my patent embalming process, with its unprece- 

 dented apparatus, which likewise has claims upon your consideration. 

 Not as a necessity, neither has it claim upon health or commercial de- 

 velopment of State; it simply claims its superiority over all processes 

 for like purposes, either in this country or Europe, which numberless 

 testimonials from homo and abroad have long since proved. 



Inclosed will be found a few out of many, selected because well known. 



I remain, gentlemen, yours, with much respect, 



BENJ. F. LYFOED, M. D. 



