THE METHOD OF MAKING POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS. 5 



be readily distinguished by its position arid extent, by the faet that the 

 surface of the skin is not elevated, and by the fact that on incision no 

 blood is found free in the interstices of the tissues. Not infrequently 

 the subcutaneous tissue in the vicinity of these post-mortem hypostases 

 becomes infiltrated with reddish serum. Very soon after death, particu- 

 larly in warm weather, the tissues immediately around the subcutaneous 

 veins of the neck and thorax, and in other situations, may become 

 stained of a bluish-red color from the decomposition and escape from 

 the vessel of the coloring matter of the blood. If the epidermis has 

 been detached at any point, the skin beneath soon becomes dry and 

 brown. 



Putrefactive Changes. Usually in from one to three days, depending 

 upon circumstances, a greenish discoloration of the skin appears, at first 

 upon the middle of the abdomen, over which it gradually spreads, assum- 

 ing a deeper hue and often changing to a greenish purple or brown. 

 Greenish patches may now appear on different parts of the body, earliest 

 upon those overlying the internal cavities ; this discoloration is probably 

 produced by the action on the haemoglobin of gases developed by decom- 

 position. The eyeballs now become flaccid, and if the eyelids are not 

 closed the conjunctiva and cornea become brown and dry. The pressure 

 of gases developed by decomposition in the internal cavities not infre- 

 quently forces a greater or less quantity of frothy, reddish fluid or mucus 

 from the mouth and nostrils, distends the abdomen, and, if excessive, 

 may lead to changes of position of the blood in the vessels, and even a 

 moderate amount of displacement of the internal organs. ' 



After a varying period, sometimes within five or six days, the entire 

 surface of the body may be discolored, green or brown. Then the epi- 

 dermis may become loosened by the accumulation of gases and fluids be- 

 neath and the tissues become flaccid. The abdomen may be greatly dis- 

 tended and the features distorted from swelling. The rapidity with 

 which these changes occur depends upon various conditions. Thus an 

 elevated temperature and the presence of air and moisture hasten the 

 advent and progress of putrefaction. 



The bodies of infants usually decompose more rapidly than those of 

 adults, fat bodies more quickly than lean ones. The infectious diseases, 

 intemperance, and the puerperal condition promote rapid decomposition, 

 as does also death from suffocating gases. Poisoning by arsenic, alco- 

 hol, antimony, sulphuric acid, strychnin, and chloroform may retard the 

 progress of decomposition. Burial in dry soil and submersion in water 

 also retard the progress of decay. 2 



1 In cases with the early and marked formation of gas in the tissues and organs, 

 especially in the liver, the possibility of infection with Bacillus rerogenes capsulatus 

 should be borne in mind. See p. 267. 



2 For a study of bacteria in the blood of the cadaver see OttolengM Vierteljahres- 

 schrift f. gerichtl. medicin, Bd. iv., Suppl. ; see also Babes, "Les maladies infectieuses 

 en medeciue legale," Annales d'Hygiene Publique, March, 1899. 



Concerning the conversion of the body into adipocere, see Ewing, Peterson and 

 Ilaines' "Text-book of Legal Medicine, 1 " vol. i., p. 136. 



