The Victorian Guide to Death and Mourning (For history enthusiasts or the merely morbid)

Victoriana Magazine ^ | 1891 | F. L. Stanton

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

It was a time of only marginal science-based innovation. And because very little was known about the risks from chemicals, often the reaction to them was strong, but confused.

For example, adding copper compounds to canned peas and beans to make them greener.

https://books.google.com/books?id=BMNXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA923&lpg=PA923&dq=copper+chlorate+in+canned+peas&source=bl&ots=VfXIRDA9Na&sig=ACfU3U2k5uku412ZyM4v0GPPnyeJ72auNA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyj_aGjJviAhUFHnwKHTmSAZoQ6AEIHTAD

(shortened link in case above link is broken)

https://is.gd/yYPVWn

Public hygiene taught in schools didn’t make a serious appearance until WWII. So while doctors knew of such, the public were often superstition driven.

Major health advances came from the use of carbolic acid (phenol) antiseptic, the widespread building of rural outhouses, efforts at mosquito abatement, and the Pure Food and Drug Act, after the publication of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, which exposed the gross nature of the meat industry.

[nopardons]

LOL...not exactly; however, Bram Stoker brought back the Gothic novel and romanticized it some, so there WAS a Victorian “craze” for vampires...DRACULA...you know. :-)

[nopardons]

About 40 some years ago, there was a book filled with old photos of Victorian/Edwardian dead, in Wisconsin. I bought the book ( it's quite interesting and contains lots of info about those times and funeral customs in America ), which is why I know about this.

Thanks for the info re Europe; I wasn't sure if it had been the custom there as well.

[HypatiaTaught]

Sounds like a great class and yes, we are truly lucky to be here in the first place. :)

[sparklite2]

Check it out.

https://www.courses.com/yale-university/death/1

[HypatiaTaught]

Thank you so much!

Awesome...