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Welcome
Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
A Taphophilia Thank You...
Taphophilia (dot) Com would not be possible without the knowledge, experience and talent of DarkestWeb. From its conception and early development, DarkestWeb was faced with many challenges; from inspiring and motivating, to providing guidance and direction. The continued dedication and support has produced results greater than ever expected, and for this, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.
Announcements
Graveyards of Chicago:
The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
By Matt Hucke And Ursula Bielski. Discover a Chicago That Exists Just Beneath the Surface - About Six Feet Under! Take a tour of Chicago's permanent residents! Please visit the Lake Claremont Press website to purchase your copy of Graveyards of Chicago today!
Green-Wood Cemetery Arcadia Publishing announces the release of Alexandra Mosca's historic account of one of New York's most famous cemeteries. Aracdia Publishing's Images of America series has an extensive catalog of many cemetery publications! Please visit Arcadia Publishing to purchase your copy of Green-Wood Cemetery and to browse other available titles!
Men of Mortuaries Calendar
To purchase your 2008 calendar, learn more about the KAMMCARES Foundation, or to be featured in the 2009 calendar, please visit Men of Mortuaries.
Epitaphs: The Magazine for Cemetery Lovers By Cemetery Lovers
For information regarding subscriptions, single issues, submission guidelines, deadlines, classifieds or advertising for future issues, please visit The Cemetery Club.
Guardians of the Soul: Angels and Innocents, Mourners and Saints, Indiana's remarkable cemetery sculpture
with photography by John Bower and foreword by Claude Cookman is now
available. Please visit
Studio Indiana for more information.
West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.
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Human Cadaver Fungi Identified |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Tuesday, 06 June 2006 |
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By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News May 22, 2006 — Deceased individuals supposedly "push up daisies," but a forthcoming study suggests human cadavers are more likely to support several species of white and yellow fungi.
The study is the first to describe in detail species of fungi obtained from human corpses. In the future, forensics experts may use the information during criminal investigations to determine an individual’s time of death. Fungi -- which lack chlorophyll, leaves, and true roots and stems -- often form part of the natural decomposition process that recycles nutrients back into the food chain. In this case, as lead author Kiyoshi Ishii told Discovery News, "The fungi feed on the dead." Ishii and his colleagues analyzed two humans whose bodies were found decomposing in very different environments. The first was a corpse discovered lying face down on a concrete floor in an abandoned house. Police determined the body belonged to a 72-year-old man who had been missing for 10 months. The scientists observed yellow and white fungi on the deceased’s chest, abdomen and thighs, but little insect infestation, probably because the house was dry and isolated. The second case study involved skeletal remains clad in a shirt and pants, which all were found in a forest next to a rope hanging from a tree branch. Forensics specialists determined the body belonged to a 50-60-year-old man who had hung himself at least 6 months before the body’s discovery. The scientists once again detected yellow and white fungi growing on the corpse. Ishii, a biologist at Dokkyo University School of Medicine in Japan, and his team collected the fungi and incubated them in a laboratory. They identified several species including Gliocladium sp., a slimy counterpart to penicillin; Eurotium chevalieri, a fungus that can be bright yellow; and Eurotium repens, which is commonly found in soil. The Eurotium species dominated the collected samples. Ishii explained that the white and yellow coloration is associated with the sexual stages for Eurotium fungi. The parasite produces threadlike filaments that terminate with circular, colorful structures called ascomata that are involved in reproduction. The fungi also produce colorful conidia, or asexual spores, which tend to form in the morning and germinate in the afternoon and evening hours. Ishii said the environment in which a body lies, rather than the biochemistry of the individual or the manner of death, tends to dictate how much or how little fungi will colonize a cadaver. The team’s findings have been accepted for publication in the journal Legal Medicine. Yuichi Chigusa, a medical parasitologist and entomologist at Dokkyo Medical University’s School of Medicine in Soka City, Japan, told Discovery News that fly larvae usually infest corpses within an hour to a half-day after the victims’ death, followed by Coleoptera (beetles) infestation and then fungal colonization. He is excited about the potential of fungi for further aiding detective work. "I am surprised that fungus is a potential tool for determining post mortem intervals in cadavers without infestation of dipteran larvae and/or beetles," Chigusa said. "Therefore, I think it is very important that forensic pathologists, forensic entomologists and forensic mycologists cooperate in determining post mortem intervals during forensic analysis." http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060522/corpsefungi_hum.html |
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Taphophilia?
taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)
ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"
DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries
Quote Repository
“But cypresses and cedars, the zephyrs impregnate by pure fragrances, perennial green leaning over the urns for eternal memory, and precious vases to collect the votive tears.” from 'Sepolcri' by Ugo Foscolo
Shirtless and Sculpted
The Men of Mortuaries 2008 Calendar is now available! All sale proceeds benefit KAMMCARES, a breast cancer foundation.
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