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An Essay on Egyptian Mummies ; with Observations on the Art of Em- 

 balming among the ancient Egyptians. By A. B. Granville, M.D. 

 F.R.S. F.L.S. F.G.S. M.R.I, one of His Royal Highness the Duke 

 of Clarence's Physicians in Ordinary, fyc. fyc. Read April 14, 1825. 

 [Phil. Trans. 1825, p. 269.] 



The mummy described in this paper was purchased at Gournou ; 

 it was in a single case of the usual form, and covered with cere cloth 

 bandages, very neatly and dexterously applied, and among which both 

 cotton and linen were recognised. These, to the amount of 28 pounds 

 avoirdupois in weight, having been removed, the body was discovered 

 to be that of a female. The abdominal integuments were remarka- 

 bly wrinkled, and the whole surface of a dark brown colour and dry, 

 but in many places soft to the touch, and with the exception of a few 

 parts, entirely deprived of cuticle. The height of the mummy from 

 the vertex of the head to the inferior surface of the calcaneum was 

 5 feet -fV inch, and the principal dimensions of the several parts cor- 

 respond with those which are usually considered as giving rise to the 

 utmost perfection of female form in the European race, neither was 

 any trait of Ethiopian character discernible in the form of the cra- 

 nium ; all which, observes Dr. Granville, supports Cuvier's opinion 

 respecting the Caucasian origin of the Egyptians. 



The author then proceeds to a brief summary of the present state 

 of our information respecting Egyptian mummies, attributing its 

 scantiness and imperfection to the rarity of perfect specimens, nearly 

 all the mummies hitherto described, presenting little else than imper- 

 fect skeletons enveloped in bandages, sometimes covered by the dry 

 skin. 



In proceeding to examine the present specimen, the integuments 

 and muscles of the abdomen were first removed, and the contents of 

 that cavity carefully inspected. They consisted of a portion of the sto- 

 mach adhering to the diaphragm, the spleen attached to the suprarenal 

 capsule of the left kidney, and the left kidney itself, with the ureter 

 descending into the bladder, which with the uterus and its appendages 

 wereobserved insitu,the latter exhibiting marks of disease. Fragments 

 only of the intestinal tube were discoverable ; and there were a few 

 lumps of resin, of a compound of clay and bitumen, and a few pieces of 

 myrrh. The right kidney, the liver, and minor glandswere missing, but 

 thegall-bladderwas detected among the loose fragments of membranes 

 and other soft parts, together with remains of its own ducts. The 

 soft parts of the pelvis were then particularly examined, and the per- 

 fect condition of the muscles, membranes, and ligaments particularly 

 noticed. The cavity of the thorax was next examined, by detaching 

 the diaphragm, to which part of the pericardium adhered ; and the 

 heart, in a very contracted state, was afterwards found suspended by 

 its vessels, and attached to the lungs, which adhered to the ribs. 



Upon the examination of the cranium, it was evident that the brain 

 had been removed through the nostrils, from the lacerated condition 



