Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Poetic Obituaries: The specimen came out of the freezer

in almost lifelike condition. According to a 1960 Time magazine article, he [Harold T. Meryman] presented his work and other examples--including his children's pet guinea pigs and a fox that had eaten 27 of his chickens--to the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian was impressed with the process and adopted it for use in animal exhibits.

Although Dr. Meryman experimented with freeze-drying organs for long-term storage and transplantation, he did not believe in human cryopreservation. He was known to express his views in lectures through poetry:

"I really think that I could freeze
My mother-in-law with the greatest ease.
The only thing that gives me pause
Is what will happen when she thaws."

from The Washington Post: Harold T. Meryman, 88, dies; found method to freeze blood

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