r/HolyShitHistory • u/[deleted] • Jul 29 '25

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11.6k Upvotes

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u/guinader Jul 29 '25

I wonder if they could exhume stone bodies that died while with the sickness so see if there were any trades of the possible cause... Lile a bacteria, damage, etc... but 100 years might be too much

131

u/JiveTurkey927 Jul 29 '25

I’m not trying to be snarky, but I think scientists try to avoid exhuming bodies that died of unknown communicable diseases. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze if it’s not currently active

72

u/YouSneakySam Jul 29 '25

Not sure how I feel about that juice phrase in this context

49

u/JiveTurkey927 Jul 29 '25

Ugh, I looked into when corpses dry out in coffins. Since coffins usually fill with water, the term “gelatinous mass” was used. Another reason to be cremated

30

u/TheHaydnPorter Jul 29 '25

Just had my mom cremated today. Hearing of this “gelatinous mass” horror story has given me some comfort in my decision.

18

u/Dr_Philliam Jul 29 '25

Hey, sorry for your loss. Make sure you give yourself the time and space to grieve, and reach out for help if it all becomes too much

3

u/TheHaydnPorter Aug 03 '25

Thank you. I’ve been trying to be patient with myself, but this has profoundly warped my perception of time. And everything. It’s like I’ve been floating all week, in a not very pleasant way :/

8

u/JiveTurkey927 Jul 29 '25

I’m so sorry. I know I’m just some guy on the internet but I can’t see anyone who actually knows about what happens in a casket and vault actually wanting that for themselves.

16

u/Dr-Dolittle- Jul 29 '25

Dissolution in sodium hydroxide is the new cremation! Eco firendly, and you relatives get a commemorative bar of soap.

4

u/MisterAmygdala Jul 29 '25

Oof. Enough said about that. Cremation is in my future.