Protocol for Embalming Hearts.

<p>The major blood vessels were severed at the point where they exited the heart. The heart was covered with either grain or vegetable fiber that was also inserted into the ventricles. Two of the four well-preserved hearts had been embalmed, with incisions made in each of the atria to allow the ventricles to be padded individually, thereby maintaining as much as possible their original shape (A). The right ventricles of the other two hearts had been slit open from the apex to the top of the atrium, after which the interventricular septum was cut, thus merging the two ventricular cavities, which were then filled with either fiber or grain or both (B). PA: pulmonary artery; Ao: aorta; LV: left ventricle; RV: right ventricle; IVS: interventricular septum; tv: tricuspid valve; mv: mitral valve.</p

Craniotomies.

<p>(A) Examples of subhorizontal to suboblique craniotomies from the Jacobins’ convent. (B) Details of bone lesions from the skull in grave 1189: (1) sawing marks, (2) fine grooves due to the removal of the teguments. (C) Illustration of Dionis’s recommended process (1765).</p

Inventory of post-mortem cuts and / or saw marks on bones

<p>Inventory of post-mortem cuts and / or saw marks on bones</p

The Embalming of Louis Bruslon du Plessis.

<p>(A) The thorax was cut into with two large incisions in the shape of a cross: one extending from the suprasternal notch to just above the navel, the other, perpendicular to the first, beneath the chest, in front of the lower ribs. (B) The teguments were partially folded over to allow access to the ribs (3 to 7), which were then severed with clean, bilateral cuts. The sterno-costal cartilage at the lower end was also severed. (C) The breastplate was lifted, giving access to the thoracic organs, which were completely removed. Of the abdominal organs, only the bladder remained in place. A dozen horizontal layers of tow and vegetable padding were inserted into the whole of the emptied cavities. Once the embalming process was finished, the breastplate was repositioned, the soft tissues put back in, and the abdominal-thoracic incision closed with thirty stitches.</p

Materials.

<p>(A) The body of Louise de Quengo in her lead coffin. (B) The body of Louis Bruslon du Plessis wrapped in two cloth shrouds tightly held in place with a rope. (C) Lead urns containing hearts. Inscriptions: (1) None; (2) "<i>[…] erine […] tournemine […] / […] D […] vaucler […] / juillet 1584</i>"; (3) "♥ <i>DU FIS DE MR DE LA BOESSIE/RE /1626/</i> "; (4) "<i>[…] ESTRE […] ANT DE LA PORTE / […]ONSME DV […] E […] SIDANT / […] PARLEMENT […] BRETAIGNE / […] R DARTOI […] / […] LE 7me MAY 1655</i>"; (5) "<i>Cy git le Coeur de [</i>…<i>] Toussainct de / Perrien Chevalier de Brefeillac &c / Dont le Corps repose [</i>…<i>] Sauveur / Pres Carhay Convent des Carmes / Deschaus qu'il a fonde et mourut / à Rennes le 30me aouft 1649</i>".</p

The Post mortem Surgical Operation on Louise de Quengo's Body.

<p>(A) View of the top half of Louise de Quengo's body, partially unclothed. (B) The thorax was cut into with two large incisions in the shape of a cross: one extending from the suprasternal notch to just above the navel, the other, perpendicular to the first, beneath the chest, in front of the lower ribs. The integuments were partially folded over to allow access to the sterno-costal cartilage (2 to 12), which was then severed with clean, bilateral cuts. The breastplate was lifted, giving access to the organs and allowing the diaphragm cupola to be severed (C). A vertical cut, 5 cm long, was made on the left side of the pericardial sac (D). Inside the pericardial cavity, the aorta and the pulmonary artery, whose supravalvular portions remained intact, were ligated shut with two separate ties using thread similar to that used to close the incision in the thorax. The principal blood vessels were severed and the pericardial sac emptied of its contents. The breastplate was repositioned, the soft tissues put back in, and the abdominal-thoracic incision crudely sewn closed.</p

Bones lesions.

<p>Representation of skeletal preservation, anatomical location, types of lesions and bone pictures. (A) Isolated suboblique craniotomy (grave 1209). (B) Subhorizontal craniotomy and associated thoracotomy, cut marks on the lower edges of the 5^th left rib with secondary fractures (grave 1226). <b>Sawing</b> is attested by tooth marks and / or scrapping marks. The deep <b>cutting grooves</b> evidence crushing and repetitive attempts at severing the ribs and / or sternum using pruning shears or choppers. The fine grooves that can be observed on the external side of the bones are due to scalpel <b>incisions</b> in order to remove teguments. Those on the internal side appear as a consequence of <b>curettage</b> the ribs and / or os coxae.</p

Tomodensitometric examination.

<p>(A) The meninges had fallen and begun decomposing but the cerebral parenchyma resting against the posterior section of the cranium is still visible (Skull axial plan). (B) Skull and cervical vertebrae sagittal plan showing evidence of intentional cranial deformation. (C) The pericardial sac is empty. The hyperdense aspect of the posterior thoracic soft tissues as well as the bone structures are visible (axial plan). (D) Dense kidney stones are visible on the abdomino-pelvic coronal plan.</p

The funerary monument to Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne.

<p>(A) Basilica of Saint Denis. (B) Detail photograph of the incision on the Queen's abdominal wall.</p

Toussaint de Perrien's cardiotaph.

<p>The epitaph gives the deceased's identity, the location of his tomb, and the date of his death: "<i>Cy git le Coeur de [</i>…<i>] Toussainct de / Perrien Chevalier de Brefeillac &c / Dont le Corps repose [</i>…<i>] Sauveur / Pres Carhay Convent des Carmes / Deschaus qu'il a fonde et mourut / à Rennes le 30me aouft 1649</i>" containing hearts. ["Here lies the heart of Toussainct de Perrien, Knight of Brefeillac &c / whose body lies […] Savior / Near Carhaix (in the) Discalced Carmelite Convent / which he founded, and who died in Rennes on August 30, 1649"].</p