Signs of Death. 105 



muscular contractions and because after death heat dissipation 

 falls on account of the cessation of the circulation in the peri- 

 phery of the body, a post-lethal internal temperature rise, to 

 perhaps 42-44° C, occurs, persisting a number of hours. 



3. The eye in death: The eyelids of the cadaver are usually 

 half open (rigidly) ; the ocular bulb is sunken and somewhat less 

 tense than in life (evaporation of some of its fluids) ; the cornea 

 becomes dull and opaque ; the pupils are dilated. The ocular reflex 

 movements upon touch are entirely absent. 



4. Appearance of putrefaction: The bacteria in the digestive 

 tract, producing all sorts of fermentative changes in the contents 

 of the canal, shortly after the death of the tissues, penetrate the 

 latter and cause their putrefaction. The gases, produced in large 

 quantities from the fermentative processes, dilate the stomach and 

 intestines, causing abdominal distension, sometimes to such a 

 degree as to force the lower bowel out of the anus, rupture the 

 diaphragm and allow the intruding intestines to distend the chest. 

 The advance of putrefaction may be noted in the colorless parts 

 of the skin by greenish discolorations (sulphur compounds of 

 haemoglobin), and also by the foul odors of cadaveric decomposi- 

 tion. These changes cause the disappearance of the rigidity of 

 the body and progress the more rapidly the warmer the surround- 

 ing temperature. Measures which inhibit the growth of the 

 putrefactive bacteria, preservation in alcohol or formaline (injection 

 of the vessels with antiseptic or balsamic substances), refrigera- 

 tion, drying, prevent putrefaction. With the advance of putre- 

 faction all the organic matter of the body is broken up into 

 ammoniacal compounds, carbonic acid and water, with the forma- 

 tion of a great variety of by-products (putrefactive alkaloids, 

 acids, gas-forming matter, etc.) until finally only the solid calcified 

 bones remain. 



The name apparent death is applied to a condition in which all 

 the vital functions are depressed to the ^owest possible degree, 

 when only by great care in the examination of the seemingly dead 

 body can there be detected feeble cardiac contractions and occa- 

 sional faint respiratory movements, a condition accompanied by loss 

 of consciousness and sensibility, and by reduction of the body 

 temperature. In recently born animals this condition is seen com- 

 paratively frequently, lasting perhaps for hours (asphyxia neona- 

 torum) ; in this connection it is perhaps due to a premature separa- 

 tion of the placenta, aspiration of the amniotic fluid, compression 

 of the umbilical cord, or to anaemia. 



