Oops - sorry ... I hit reply to the wrong posting. Please ignore previous,
and blame me for forgetting my glasses.
I could be wrong, but I have a feeling that camphor suppresses the gag
reflex in the presence of nauseant odours. I certainly don't think that it
is strong enough a smell to mask the smell of decomposing bodies all that
well.
Camphor has also been used popularly as a prophylactic against infection,
and it forms part of the embalming mixture traditionally used in some
countries (though which and when, I couldn't say.)
Hope this helps,
Paul Ellison
----- Original Message -----
From: "Graham Owens" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 2:24 PM
Subject: Seaham Colliery Explosion 1880
> I was reading an abridged account of the Seaham Colliery Disaster of 1880
> at the weekend (The Coalminers of Durham - Norman Emery). Reference is
made
> to the fact rescuers, while bodies were being recovered, held camphor bags
> between their teeth. Was this simply to cover the smell?
>
> Yours curiously
>
> Graham
>
>
>
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