DEATH

ent ce ation of vitality in the whole of the ti ues of the body of an animal or plant. The immediate cause of d. may be (1) syncope, sudden heart failure, due to disease of the heart or circulatory system, or to shock reacting on the heart by the neryous system; (2) asthenia, gradual heart failure from weakening of the whole system by wasting disease or toxins in fevers, etc.; (3) asphyxia, when air is prevented from entering the lungs, as in drowning, suffocation, etc.; (4) coma, unconsciousne due to a brain lesion or poisoning of the brain through its blood supply, by (e.g-) opium or alcohol D. may, of course, due to a combination of two or more of the above four modes. The signs of d. include ce ation of circulation and respiration, lowering of the body temperature; if a cut is made, the edges of the wound collapse instead of gaping as in life; rigidity of the muscles, or rigor mort is, comes on some time after death, and lasts for 24 or 36 hours, commencing at the face and neck; livid colors appear in the parts of the body which are lowest, depending on its position, and, later, a greenish color appears on the abdomen.