DEATH

of the body as a whole occurs when the heart ceases to beat, but the individual organs of the body live on for varying eo oe of time, ranging from a few moments to a Phat ban ter the heart has ceased; thus the arteries empty themselves into the veins, the intestines continue to work, and the muscles can be thrown into action by an electric shock. In the lower animals the life of the individual organs is even le dependent on the life of the body as a whole; thus the heart of a tortoise removed after the tortoise has been killed by decapitation, will continue to beat for a day or two, and if cut into strips, each strip will go on working. Death generally begins with failure of (1) the circulation, (2) the dey os or (3) the nervous system which keeps the two former functions working normally. Death from syncope, asphyxia or coma is said to occur according as (1), (2) or (3) is the mode of onset. The signs o} death are ce ation of the heart's action, ce ation of the breathing, the gradual coo'ing of the body down to that of the room, the onset of rigidity or i mort is in the jaw and limbs, = formation of a film on the surface bright cht = pupil no contracting on exposure to i eer af dark patelien like bruises, on the skin of the under surface of the body due to blood gravitating there, and finally the onset cf decomposition. The ce ation of the pulse at the wrist only proves that the heart is not beating sufficiently strongly to make itself felt there, but if the heart is beating, by placing the hand just below the left nipple it can usua 7 be felt, and by placing the ear to the same spot, heard. By placing a mirror over the mouth and nose the presence of breathing can be determined by the formation or not of a film of moist are. This is one of the best tests for the layman, as it combines simplicity with reliability. Placing a gla brimfull of water on the chest or upper part of the abiomen is alto ased to tet breathing, as the slightest movement will spill the water, even th no movement appears definitely present. The other —— of death mentioned above require certain comments. pg ot war anes ey ga for a few hours before the gradual cooling down to that of the surrounding objects begins. The onset of rigidity may be instantaneous, as in the case of certain soldiers on the battlefield, who have been found rigid in the act of _ wav i tials gegen Harve with a musket or even retain hen, La seat on a galloping horse; on the other hand, in the aged and those exhau by «ng ee rigidity is delayed, ill-marked and of short duration. The usual time of onset is three hours after death, and the usual é [s. 349]