X-Message-Number: 17504 Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:58:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Charles Platt <> Subject: More about rosewater First I have to say that personally, I don't care whether Barry Albin uses rose water, distilled water, tonic water, or tap water. But I do have a sense of humor, which is tickled by this whole topic and only marginally diminished by David Pascal's characteristically lengthy and humorless response (which I did not read in its entirety, because I knew already what he was going to say). Inevitably, follow-up messages have started trickling in from sources who say, "Please do not identify me--but you might be interested to know...." Here's a choice piece of email from "a person" in the UK: --------------------------- The authority on embalming practises over here is The British Institute of Embalming (www.bioe.org.uk) and I phoned them today. The spokesman said that rosewater is made from roses. No surprise there. He said that is not often used by embalmers these days and is more usually known for its use in cooking. It can be found in many supermarkets. He was quite clear that it was different from distilled or deionised water, even in the context of glycerine rose water. Most significantly at all, when asked if it would be possible for a reputable undertaker to confuse rosewater with distilled or deionised water he expressed surprise, and his exact words were: "Oh good Lord no! One is pink and smells of roses and the other is just water." You can find out how rosewater is made in England at www.rosewater.co.uk ---------------------------- End of forwarded email. Obviously there is no point in my telephoning Barry Albin at this point myself, because CI has had ample time to do damage control. I imagine a phone call along the lines, "No, no, we use glycerol, not rosewater, Barry. If anyone asks you, just say you meant to say 'distilled water.'" Etc, etc. I am of course merely speculating, and nothing in this email should be taken to imply that CI is anything less than the finest organization employing the most technically literate staff who apply state-of-the-art treatment to cryopatients who are thoroughly informed about every step of the procedures. --CP Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17504