In a legal point of view it is always proper to ascertain whether the person who -has thus been deprived of his senses is the victim of another, whether the injury has been caused by accident, or whether it is. In a medical point of view it is important to ascertain whether the person is merely asphyxiated, or whether he is dead.
Persons asphyxiated are frequently in a state of only apparent death.
Real from apparent death, can be distinguished only by putrefaction. Till putrefaction commences, aid ought to be rendered to persons asphyxiated. Experience proves that remaining several hours under water does not always produce death. The red, violet, or black color of the face, the coldness of the body, the stiffness of the limbs, are not always signs of death. The place where the operation is performed should not be too warm.