Arterial embalming, as practiced today, is accomplished by locating an artery near the surface of the body, making an incision in it and injecting a preservative solution. The blood is pushed out of the vein by the arterial fluid. Then the restoration work can begin. This consists of rebuilding body parts that may have been destroyed, as in the case of an accident victim. Waxes, cosmetics and special stitches with needle and thread may be used to camouflage the wound. In school I was taught that this would help the survivors accept the reality of death. I would often spend many hours in restoring the body to a lifelike appearance. This was challenging and I prided myself in being able to restore an emaciated or mutilated body to appear as it did when the person was alive and healthy.

Is embalming necessary? In the United States federal law requires it if the body is to be transported by common carrier. Some states require it if final disposition does not occur for a specified number of hours or if death was from a communicable disease.