Prof. E. H. Crane's manual of instructions to undertakers : $b With full and complete instructions in the best methods for preserving the dead, including minute directions for arterial injection

A thorough guide written for professional undertakers, this manual lays out a complete, step‑by‑step system for preserving the dead using the author’s Excelsior Preservative. Drawing on more than twenty‑five years of experimentation, the author argues that this method outperforms older practices such as ice and simple cooling. The tone is practical and concise, aiming to make every technique clear without unnecessary digression.

The work opens with a brief survey of ancient embalming, then moves quickly into modern procedures, including detailed instructions for arterial injection. Chapters devoted to the carotid, brachial and femoral arteries are accompanied by precise drawings that show exactly where to place the needle. Safety precautions for the operator, chemical affinities, and a list of required instruments are all covered in plain language.

Designed as a revised edition for the author’s customers, the manual is intended to be kept secure and used as a reference on the job. Its emphasis on reproducible results makes it a useful historical snapshot of late‑19th‑century funeral science, while still offering concrete guidance for anyone learning the trade today.