OF DEATH AND THE CADAVER. 109 



of the soft parts, afterward spontaneously ceases, and in the 

 same order of its manifestation; it is replaced by a softness 

 that gradually augments; the parts are abandoned to their 

 gravity, take a consequent direction and sink. The coagu- 

 lated fluids become again liquified, and their fluidity even 

 seems to increase. Such are the first phenomena of putrid 

 decomposition. 



126. In some cases and most commonly after a sudden 

 and violent death, there is a considerable and rapid disen- 

 gagement of gas, either in the intestinal canal, the serous cavi- 

 ties, the cellular tissue or even in the vessels themselves: from 

 this result other various remarkable phenomena. The tym- 

 panites of the abdomen pushing up the diaphram, freqently 

 occasions a discharge of mucus from the mouth or nares, and 

 sends the blood to the neck and head: whence, the swelling 

 of the face, the lustre of the eye, the contraction of the pupil; 

 it also causes a reflux of the matter in the stomach to the 

 pharynx, larynx, the nasal fossa or the mouth; it also occa- 

 sions a determination of blood to the genitals, the excretion of 

 gas, of faeces, and sometimes, even a rupture of the abdominal 

 parietes. The development of gas in the cellular tissue con- 

 stitutes the cadaverous emphysema; its disengagement in the 

 heart and vessels occasions a motion in the blood and even 

 its flow from wounds, phenomena styled, cadaverous cruen- 

 tation. 



127. Putrefaction is an intestinal movement, the inverse 

 of the organic action, which establishes itself in the body, de- 

 stroys all the combinations, which were formed by the vital 

 action, separates their molecules, reduces them to a simpler 

 state of composition, reduces them to gas, vapours, putres- 

 cence and earth, and thus restoring them to the general mass 

 of inert bodies. Besides the cessation of life, putrefaction re- 

 quires as other requisites, the contact of air, and a certain de- 

 gree of heat and humidity. The extent and combination of 

 these requisites, occasion much variety in the phenomena of 

 decomposition. 



128. It commences commonly, the instant the coagula- 

 tion and rigidity cease: from that moment the liquids begin 



