Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1859 — A New Coffin. [ARTICLE]

A New Coffin.

'Pho New Albany 'Zr/fnZne thtis describes an invention f<>r preserving dead bodies, recently pattented by a citizen of that place, Mr. John R. Cannon. If the invention does what is claimed for it we can surpass all tiie embalming arts of the Egvptians: “'l’he coffin is made of nlass, from one half to one inch thick, cast in two pieces of the ordinary form. In the upper edge of the body of the cofilin is a groove, in which a tongue in the lid loosely fits. When a corpse is placed in the coffin the groove is filled with melted cement; the lid is placed ou, and firmly held by three iron bands until the cement is hardened. Through a small hole in the top of the coflin, the air is then extracted by means of a pump. By these means. Mr. Cannon claim', bodies mav be preserved in their i literal state- for all ages to come; and when placed in vaults, can always be -accessible to the gaze of those who are ‘lelt behind.’ The expense of these coltlns will be no more than ordinary ‘wooik'n collins.”