stroke, such as burns, blisters, livid streaks, bruises, etc., they are not invariably met with in cases where death was instantaneous. So, too, where instant death occurred, rigor mortis frequently comes on at once, the body retaining the same position as when struck. 27. Death from starvation.-This may be either (1) chronic, where there is withheld food sufficient either as to quality or quantity to sustain life; or (2) acute, as where all food is withheld from a person previously well fed. Acute starvation is rarely due to design, but is usually the result of accident. Chronic starvation may be the result of disease, deprivation, or neglect on the part of those having charge of children or others somewhat helpless. The post-mortem appearances of starvation will show emaciation, absence of fat tissues, muscles soft, wasted and lacking tone, and the skin harsh and dry. vessels it would prove very dangerous, and would quite likely cause death. Some wounds, from their nature and location, will at once negative the probability of self-infliction. Thus, in suicide by shooting, the wound is rarely from behind, although it is possible. So, too, a fracture of the skull would be extremely improbable from a self-inflicted blow. Many wounds are of such a nature, however, as to afford no reliable indication of the manner of their production. It then becomes necessary to look to the surroundings for evidence. Indications of a struggle, such as torn or disordered clothing, a number of wounds, bruises, etc., would point strongly to homicide. Usually, if the victim is found grasping the fatal weapon tightly, it is an indication of suicide; but the fact of the pistol or dagger being found some distance from the victim is not necessarily inconsistent with suicide. If the wound was made before death, more or less bleeding, with coagulation, will be found. If death did not occur for some time after the wound, the edges will have begun to draw together and the natural processes of repair will be seen; but this is not the case if death follows closely upon the wound. If the wound was inflicted after death, the hemorrhage will be slight (if any at all), and will consist of venous blood only. The edges of the wound will be gaping, and no processes of repair will be indicated. 31. Burns and scalds.-A burn is caused by dry heat applied to the body; a scald, by the application of hot liquids. The greater the surface extent of the burn over the body, the more serious it becomes. This (3) As to depth: (a) superficial, where the injury is external; (b) penetrating, where the surface extent is much less than the depth; (c) perforating, a penetrating wound which cuts or breaks through some of the internal cavities of the body, as the stomach. 30. Medico-legal consideration of wounds. This is for the purpose of determining: (1) whether the wound was the cause of death, (2) what instrument produced the wound, (3) whether it was made before or after death, (4) by whom it was made and with what intent: Was it self-inflicted or not? Was it suicidal, accidental, or homicidal? Death can result from some one cause only. It is necessary, therefore, to negative all other possible causes before one can say positively that a wound, however severe, was the cause of the death. In the case of only one wound, and that one injuring some of the vital organs, there will be, perhaps, little difficulty; although even in such case the wound may be the indirect, rather than the direct cause of death. For instance, a kick or blow upon the abdomen, causing fecal matter to escape, an operation and cleaning of the cavity, followed by peritonitis and death: here death was the direct result of the peritonitis, but the wound was the indirect cause. The nature and extent of the wound, the part of the body on which it was inflicted, are all very essential considerations in fixing the cause of death. Thus, a penetrating wound, unless confined to the thick, fleshy parts, is more likely to cause death than a cutting, bruising, or tearing wound. But if the incised wound were in the throat or where it severed some of the large blood vessels it would prove very dangerous, and would quite likely cause death. Some wounds, from their nature and location, will at once negative the probability of self-infliction. Thus, in suicide by shooting, the wound is rarely from behind, although it is possible. So, too, a fracture of the skull would be extremely improbable from a self-inflicted blow. Many wounds are of such a nature, however, as to afford no reliable indication of the manner of their production. It then becomes necessary to look to the surroundings for evidence. Indications of a struggle, such as torn or disordered clothing, a number of wounds, bruises, etc., would point strongly to homicide. Usually, if the victim is found grasping the fatal weapon tightly, it is an indication of suicide; but the fact of the pistol or dagger being found some distance from the victim is not necessarily inconsistent with suicide. If the wound was made before death, more or less bleeding, with coagulation, will be found. If death did not occur for some time after the wound, the edges will have begun to draw together and the natural processes of repair will be seen; but this is not the case if death follows closely upon the wound. If the wound was inflicted after death, the hemorrhage will be slight (if any at all), and will consist of venous blood only. The edges of the wound will be gaping, and no processes of repair will be indicated. 31. Burns and scalds.-A burn is caused by dry heat applied to the body; a scald, by the application of hot liquids. The greater the surface extent of the burn over the body, the more serious it becomes. This is also the case where the injury is from scald. It is hard to say, in many cases, just what was the cause of death. In large fires death may be due to asphyxia, to absence of oxygen, to breathing the flame into the lungs, to fright, or to shock resulting from extensive burns on the body. After burns upon the body blisters will frequently form on the skin, and if serum is found therein, it is evidence that life was not extinct at the time of the burns. If the burns took place after death, a condition very similar to blister may be found, but instead of finding serum, the blister will contain air or gas. A redness about the burned portion, either a line or a patch more or less diffused, indicates that death was subsequent to the burning. It is important to remember that the bodies of victims of murder are frequently burned more or less extensively in order to cover up the crime. Where any suspicious circumstances are present, a careful examination of the body for wounds should be made, and the burned portion closely scrutinized for evidences of death having taken place before the burn. |