MODES OF DEATH. 115 



condition ; and wounds of tlie heart are sometimes followed by 

 paralysis, sometimes by rigid contraction of that organ. In 

 sudden death from drinking very cold water when the body is 

 heated, the heart has been found contracted. 



In the slower modes of death beginning at the heart, it is 

 found that tlie same conditions exist after death. In death 

 from haemorrhage — anaemia — it is found that the heart is firmly 

 contracted, if the animal be examined shortly afterwards ; the 

 circulation failing, not because the heart has lost its power of 

 contraction, but because blood does not arrive in sufficient 

 quantities in its cavities. That the heart does not lose its 

 power of contraction in such cases is proved by the transfusion 

 of blood from an animal into the veins of a human bemg or 

 other animal apparently dead from haemorrhage, where it has 

 been found that animation may thus be restored. " It is quite 

 clear," says Watson, " that this introduction of fresh blood could 

 be of no avail in a case where the heart was unable to act upon 

 the blood which had already reached it." 



Approaching death from hoemorrhage is manifested by great 

 and rapidly increasing pallor of the mucous membranes, cold- 

 ness of the mouth, surface of the body, and extremities, cold 

 sweats, a dazed or dim appearance of the eyes, convulsive 

 struggles — if the animal is down, at first strong but rapidly 

 becoming feeble, if standing, the animal will balance its body 

 upon the extremities ; the pulse feeble, irregular — sometimes 

 slow, sometimes fast — cold breath, convulsive breathing, dilata- 

 tion of the pupils, and very often just before death the animal 

 gives a loud scream or delirious neigh. 



In another form of gradual death beginning at the heart, 

 it is found that the heart has gradually lost its power of con- 

 tractility. This is the most common mode by which death 

 occurs, and is the termination of many exhausting diseases, 

 especially those which destroy the strength without directly 

 interfering with the more vital functions, such as influenza, 

 diarrhoea, diabetes, fevers, as well as inanition from want of food, 

 or other causes which reduce the powers of the whole body. 



The two conditions of tlie heart found after death beginning 

 at that organ may each be brought about in two ways : — 1st. 

 Suddenly, as in instantaneous death from shock or great violence ; 

 and 2d. When death, although it may be said to occur suddenly, 



