Geology, conservation and dissolution of corpses by Paolo Gorini (1813-1881)

Paolo Gorini (1813-1881), an Italian mathematician, is considered one of the fathers of experimental geology, and his work contributed to the evolution of medicine and hygiene. In 1844, he studied food conservation and worked out a method for conserving corpses and anatomical specimens, approved by the Medical School of Pavia. His geological studies mainly concerned mineralisation. At that time several researchers, including Jean Nicolas Gannal (1791-1852), Girolamo Segato (1792-1836), Ludovico Brunetti (1813-1899) and Efisio Marini (1835- 1900), experimented on the scientific conservation of corpses. Later (1851), Gorini studied the formation of mountains and suggested experiments and demonstrations to produce volcanoes artificially. These studies were fundamental to realizing the early methods of corpse cremation in order to solve the problem of hygiene in cities and cemeteries. Gorini also supervised the construction of the first crematorium (Woking, UK). Gorini conserved the corpse of the Italian politician Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872). Gorini's theories were not scientifically confirmed, but his attempt to understand the Universe and the origin of life and evolution by means of a single law is interesting as an early model for the emerging positivism of that time.