continues: Formalin, now widely used by embalmers, is a mixture of formaldehyde and water that kills bacteria. Salafia was one of the first to use this for embalming bodies. Alcohol, along with the arid conditions in the catacombs, would have dried Rosalia's body and allowed it to mummify. Glycerin would have kept her body from drying out too much, and salicylic acid would have prevented the growth of fungi.

But it was the zinc salts, according to Melissa Johnson Williams, executive director of the American Society of Embalmers, that were most responsible for Rosalia's amazing state of preservation. Zinc, which is no longer used by embalmers in the United States, petrified Rosalia's body.

So beautiful and yet so sad.Even as an atheist I hope there is indeed a heaven because that is where this angel belongs.

I believe there is a reason for our existence Swampy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aOrrQRweug

I don't know! Maybe we are just like flowers, we live and we die!

The loss of a child is always tragic. But I think the body should be allowed to go back to the earth. At the least the poor child should be in her grave, why is she being exhibited like that. How would her descendants feel seeing her like that.