AN EXTRAORDINARY THEORY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 187, 7 September 1871, Page 7

AN EXTRAORDINARY THEORY.

A- distinguish Swelish c!iemist, Dl* Grussolbacn, a professor of the University of Upsal, has come to the conclusion that those Egyptian mummies whicli are found in the ancient tombs oil tlio Nile, in a complete state — that is to say, without having been deprived of their brains and entrails, like most mummies — are not embalmed at all, but '' are really the bodies of individuals whose life has been momentarily suspended, with the intention of restoring them at some future time, only the secret of preservation was lost." Professor Grrusselbach adduces many proofs in support of his idea — amongst others, his experiments during the last ten years, which, he says, have always proved successful. He took a snake, and treated it in such a manner as to benumb it as though it had been marble ; and it was so brittle as that, had he allowed it to fall, it would have broken into fragnunts. In this state lie kept it several years, and then restored it to life again by sprinkling ifc with stimulating fluid, the composition of which is a secret. For fifteen years the snake hna bean undergoing existence composed of successive deaths and reaurmetions, apparently without sustaining harm. The Professor is reported to have sent a petition to the Government, requesting that a criminal who has been condemned to death may be given to him to be treated the same way as the suakc, promising to restore him to life again in two year 3. It is understood that the man undergoing tin's experiment is to be pardoned. Of course, if a man can be in a state of suspended animation for two years, he may be kept two thousand years ; and if the Professor succeeds, we can lav up a few specimens of our contemporaries .for exhibition in the thirtyninth century. — " Appelton's Journal."