50 ON DEATH. 



The contact of black blood with the organs has doubtless 

 some agency in inducing death. 



Q. In diseases where does death begin? 



/?. In the lungs. 



Q. What is the colour of the arterial blood after death 

 from disease? 



Jl. It is black, because death commencing in the lungs, 

 their chemical functions give way, the blood sent to the 

 left heart is black, and consequently the arterial blood is 

 so too. 



Q. When death begins in the heart, what is the colour 

 of the arterial blood? 



#. It is red, and the lungs are empty. 



Q. When death commences in the brain, what is the 

 condition of the lungs? 



#. Generally they are empty of blood. 



On the Influence of Death of the Brain upon that of 

 the Lungs. 



Q. Does death of the brain affect the lungs directly or 

 indirectly? 



#. From experiments made in cutting the sympathetic 

 nerve and par vagum, it is presumed that direct cerebral 

 influence does not induce death of the lungs. For although 

 all these nerves be cut, respiration continues for some time; 

 yet surely if direct cerebral influence operates on the lungs 

 it is by these nerves. 



Q. How then does death of the brain induce that of the 

 lungs? 



#. Indirectly, by cutting off the cerebral influence, pa- 

 ralysing the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, and thus 

 destroying the mechanical functions of the lungs. 



