Defleshing embalmed remains

Wendy Jessup posted an inquiry from Matthew Rowley regarding a
problem with defleshing embalmed remains.

Embalming "fixes" the collagen in the muscle and tissues by
cross-linking, making hydrolysis by water alone more difficult.  If
maceration in warm water is not working, then the anatomist needs to
use other chemicals in the baths besides detergent (what detergent
was not specified).  I suspect that enzymes would also not be very
effective at this point.

I would suggest 10% sodium perborate solution, followed by thorough
rinsing in clean water, and degreasing in a solvent such as
methylene chloride. Sodium hypochlorite ("bleach") has also been
used to soften and breakdown tissue.  All these treatments will
result in disarticulated skeletons, but from the wording of the
inquiry, it appears that articulation is not an issue.

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:22
                 Distributed: Friday, September 5, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-22-001
                                  ***