The greatest embalming job of the 20th Century was the mummification of V. I. Lenin. Until last week, the technique had always remained a dark secret of Soviet science. Finally, Dr. Herwig Hamperl, famed Austrian pathologist who taught in Moscow and was a close friend of the embalmers, let the world in on some of the secret.
When Lenin died in 1924, an autopsy was performed to spike rumors that he had died of syphilis or poison. Because the autopsy cut the blood vessels through which embalming fluid ordinarily is forced, some new technique had to be devised if Lenin was to keep.
The Kremlin hurriedly sent to Kharkov for Professor V. Vorobiov, who had developed some of the world’s finest injection needles to demonstrate to his anatomy students the workings of blood vessels. With his needles Vorobiov and an assistant named Schabadach injected a solution of formalyn sublimate, skin-colored dyes and ordinary embalming fluid directly into Lenin’s skin and tissue, centimeter by centimeter. The painfully minute “tattooing” operation took a month to finish. For years Schabadach made monthly visits to check the body’s condition and add further injections as needed.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 1 Heart-Health Habit You Should Start When You’re Young
- Cuddling Might Help You Get Better Sleep
- The 50 Best Romance Novels to Read Right Now
Contact us at letters@time.com