Unraveling the Strange Case of Mrs. Ellenbogen and the Truth Behind “The Soap Lady” at the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia

Unraveling the Strange Case of Mrs. Ellenbogen and the Truth Behind “The Soap Lady” at the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia

Despite the less-than-flattering descriptions and initial assumptions, the Soap Lady remains one of the most enduring specimens at the Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. For over 140 years, she has been on display, captivating visitors with her mysterious story. While much is known about how her body came to be preserved in such a unique manner, very little is known about the woman herself. Furthermore, scientific inquiry has challenged previously held beliefs about her, adding to the intrigue surrounding her identity and history.

Saponification to Mummification

Resting within the Mütter Museum, the Soap Lady resides in a wooden and glass case, evoking images of Snow White’s coffin from the Grimms’ fairy tale. Laid out on her back, her mouth is frozen in a silent gasp or a potential scream, subject to interpretation. Her hands rest gently on her legs, while her toes point slightly. Years of exposure to Philadelphia’s pollution have left her body darkened, and what remains of her hair forms wisps around her head. Her eyes, though they appear both open and closed, are actually shriveled and sunken.

Tạp chí thám hiểm | Vụ án kỳ lạ của bà Ellenbogen

Despite her moniker, the Soap Lady isn’t composed of soap; rather, she is a saponified body. Saponification is a postmortem process where a body undergoes chemical changes, converting body fat into a substance known as adipocere. Adipocere, also called grave wax or corpse wax, is an organic material with a semi-hard, waxy texture reminiscent of cheese. It forms in an anaerobic (oxygen-deprived) and alkaline environment, typically facilitated by specific bacteria found in the human intestinal tract. While it was previously believed that a waterlogged environment was necessary for saponification, recent research suggests that moisture from the body itself can suffice.
During saponification, a chemical reaction occurs, leading to the hydrolysis of fat and the formation of fatty acid salts and other components that constitute adipocere. As this process unfolds, water is extracted from the soft tissue, rendering the body inhospitable to further bacterial decomposition. Additionally, adipocere is unpalatable to the insects that typically consume decomposing tissue, allowing these bodies to remain relatively intact.
Xà phòng Lady: chết vì bệnh sốt vàng da, được khai quật vào những năm 1870 : r/creepy
The question of whether the Soap Lady qualifies as a mummy often arises. While some contend that saponification differs from traditional mummification, as it involves a distinct chemical process altering the body’s molecular structure, others argue that the end result shares similarities with natural mummification. Adipocere formation yields a naturally preserved corpse with minimal water content, akin to naturally mummified remains, albeit without the need for specialized environmental conditions. Whether classified as a mummy or not, the Soap Lady remains a perplexing figure, largely owing to the efforts of Dr. Joseph Leidy.

An 1874 Delivery to the Mütter

Dr. Leidy, a distinguished figure of the 19th century, was renowned for his diverse expertise as a physician, paleontologist, naturalist, and professor. As a Fellow of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, he contributed numerous specimens to the Mütter Museum. In 1874, he presented the museum with one of two saponified bodies discovered in a Philadelphia graveyard. The female specimen, known as the Soap Lady, was received by the Mütter Museum, while the male counterpart went to the Wistar and Horner Museum, now The Wistar Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Initially, Dr. Leidy provided information suggesting that both bodies belonged to individuals named “Ellenbogen” who died of yellow fever in 1792. The Mütter Museum accepted this narrative for over six decades until further investigation by Joseph McFarland revealed discrepancies.

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Joseph Leidy and Charles Knight | American Experience | Official Site | PBS

McFarland embarked on a meticulous investigation into the life and demise of the Ellenbogens in Philadelphia. He encountered an immediate challenge with the surname. While the Soap Lady was simply designated as “The woman named Ellenbogen,” the label of the Soap Man at the Wistar Museum indicated “Body of Wilhelm von Ellenbogen.” The inclusion of “von” in a German name typically suggests noble lineage. McFarland set out to uncover any traces of these names in death records, church registries, ship logs, and other available documents. Despite his exhaustive efforts, McFarland failed to find any records of Ellenbogens, noble or otherwise, in the death registries of Philadelphia in 1792. Furthermore, there were no recorded deaths from yellow fever during that period. Even after scrutinizing published lists of thousands of yellow fever fatalities in 1793, McFarland could not find any mention of the Ellenbogens. Remarkably, there was no historical record of individuals with that surname in Philadelphia until after 1856.

McFarland’s investigation extended to the purported location of the cemetery near Fourth and Race Streets. Despite the presence of three German churches in the vicinity, he found that none of their cemeteries matched the description. Delving further into the archives of The College of Physicians’ library, McFarland made a revealing discovery that exposed Leidy’s deception. A handwritten receipt dated November 18, 1875, documented Leidy’s payment of two installments of $7.50 each to acquire the bodies from the gravesite. In the receipt, Leidy openly admitted to using “connivance” to obtain the bodies he sought.

Solving the Mystery of Mrs. Ellenbogen

THE CURIOUS CASE of MRS. ELLENBOGEN

Leidy might have initiated the acquisition of the saponified bodies, but he was not acting alone in these dubious dealings. Although Leidy was reimbursed by The College for his expenses related to obtaining the Soap Lady, it wasn’t until after his death that Dr. William Hunt shed light on the details of how Leidy obtained the bodies. Hunt, who served on the Mütter Museum Committee from 1865 to 1895 and was the acting curator during the Soap Lady’s acquisition, revealed the truth in an article published on January 16, 1896, in the Philadelphia Public Ledger:

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The only instance I ever know of Dr. Leidy’s departure from strict truth was, to a medical man’s way of looking at it, a very amusing one. Some years ago he came to my house in quite an enthusiastic mood, and said: ‘Doctor Hunt, do you know that they are moving the bodies from a very old burying ground down town to make way for improvements?’ ‘Yes,’ I said ‘Well’ he went on, ‘two bodies turned into adipocere are there…They have been buried for nearly a hundred years, nobody claims them, and they would be rare and instructive additions to our collections.’ ‘Alright; [said Hunt] I shall be delighted.’

So Leidy went down to secure the prize. When he spoke to the Superintendent, that gentleman put on airs, talked of violating graves, etc.; so the discomfited doctor was about to withdraw. Just then the Superintendent touched him significantly on the elbow and said: ‘I tell you what I do, I give bodies up to the order of relatives.’ The doctor took the hint, went home, hired a furniture wagon, and armed the driver with an order reading: ‘Please deliver to bearer the bodies of my grandfather and grandmother.’ This brought the coveted prizes and the virtuous caretaker was not forgotten.

McFarland’s investigation may have solved one mystery, but it also opened the door to many more unanswered questions. With the revelation that the body was not Leidy’s grandparents, did not perish in 1792, and bore no relation to the name Ellenbogen, the Mütter Museum found itself in possession of the remains of an unidentified woman, adding to the intrigue surrounding the Soap Lady.

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Soap Woman” at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia - This Belongs in a Museum

The 1987 radiographic examination of the Soap Lady, led by Gerald Conlogue, revealed intriguing details about her condition. Despite her toothless appearance and elderly demeanor, her skeleton displayed remarkable health and robustness, suggesting an age of around 40 at the time of her death. However, evidence of bone remodeling in her jaws indicated that she likely lost her teeth many years prior to her demise.
Moreover, the examination uncovered fractures in her jawbones, but the pattern and lack of healing suggested that these injuries occurred post-mortem, after her death. Additionally, the team discovered eight straight pins scattered around her body. These pins appeared to have been used to secure a shroud around her at the time of her burial. Importantly, the presence of these pins provided tangible evidence contradicting the claimed date of her death in 1792, as they were manufactured using a machine patented in England in 1824.
The 2007 reunion of Conlogue and his team allowed for a more detailed examination of the Soap Lady using a higher-quality x-ray machine. With improved image quality, a physical/forensic anthropologist was able to reassess the age of the Soap Lady. Based on this analysis, it is now believed that she was in her 30s at the time of her death, revising previous estimates.
The quest to unravel the mystery surrounding the Soap Lady continues, with the primary questions of her identity and cause of death still unanswered. Further testing is necessary, although it poses challenges due to the fragile nature of her body. The adipocere, with its crumbly texture, requires careful handling to prevent large chunks from flaking off. Evaluating the DNA potential of hair follicles and nail samples is underway to determine if sufficient viable material exists for analysis. Additionally, the revised assessment of her age raises questions about the nature of her tooth loss, which likely occurred by her teens or early twenties. While dental hygiene could be a factor, there may also be an underlying pathological condition. Testing her hair for heavy metals or other contaminants is planned to explore potential contributing factors to her tooth loss.

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