<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (March 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (March 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them (in its modern form with chemicals) to forestall decomposition . The intention is to keep them suitable for public display at a funeral, for religious reasons . It helps preserve the body for many years . The three goals of embalming are sanitization, presentation preservation and in some cases restoration . Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes a greater religious meaning . </P> <P> Embalming is distinct from taxidermy . Embalming preserves the human body intact, whereas taxidermy is the recreation of an animal's form often using only the creature's skin mounted on an anatomical form . Embalming also differs from Anatomical Wetting in which medical specimens (including cadavers) are preserved for further study and research . Anatomical Wetting does not concern with the overall appearance and uses different chemicals than a traditional funerary embalming . </P>

What is the purpose of embalming a dead body