answer:Well…dead people are “stiff.” lol Rigor Mortis sets in and then abates again within about a 24 hour time frame, sooo, since most deaths occured at home in those days the family members immediately began to prepare the bodies for showing and burial. Taking their last, and perhaps only, photos of their deceased loved ones or children/infants. I’d imagine that the body was prepped, dressed, and viewed and buried within 48 hours or so, maybe 72, but, that’s about as much time as a body has before it starts to get really ugly.