This is what is more commonly known as a soap lady, like the one in the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia. Perhaps it’s the same one?
This letter was written 2 days before Otis died on the job.
Smithsonian Institution,
Washington D.C., Feb. 21, 1881
Dear Doctor,
I enclose an offer of an adipocere woman. Do you want it for the Museum. It ought to be preserved somewhere; but would not be appropriate for the National Museum
Yours truly,
Spencer Baird
Dr. George A. Otis
Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Note on bottom says, “Enclosure returned to Prof. Baird”
