Smyrna times., 1865-03-30
James North was not Drowned.
PHlLA., March n, lSG;
M'. E{tt0y-Dear Sir:

Seeing some errors |
in the columns OF your last week paper, with |
other reports likely to produce q false imurcS-
sion, as to the cause Of the death of Mr. North !
| am induced to lay the ,t;,cts Of the AutoDsy
before the public, Mrs. North and her friends
had the deceased cXhumcd, and requested me
to make the Post MOrtem. and the following
physic, pathological deductions are taken from
correct notes by Mr. David {. lloifccker dur
ing the examination.
The body was in a fine state representations
his general appearance was not like that of a
man who met his death by drowning: his eyes
were firmly closed, lips strongly compressed.
tn" 0bdonlen fiat, the contained viSccla unusu-
ally compressed by the abdominal muscles, not
tympantic, no dStcntiOn whatever, notwith-
standing atmospheric exposure, and covered
with water several days in the grave
! Upon opening the brain quantity of extra
vasated blood was found between the brain
and the delicate membrane Pia-matcr) cover
ing 1t, at the point known as the JoStcy7or lobe
! Of the LH cereJrUm: also cifusion Of blood. with
coagulum and tilamentous patches Of lymph,
between the membranes (Arachnoid and Pia-
mater) and the centre (Modulla Oblongata) of
the three great organic functions Of life-here
rdS the cause Of his dcah! \ heavy blow had
been received on the back part and side of his
head, but that it did not produce instant death
IS proved by the fact that he lived long enough
for blood to be etfused and form a true trdSSu-
mentum. Had death been instantaneous there
would have been no clOt in cortical substance,
no ettuslOn of coaguiatcd blood in the fourth
ventrlce, nor patches OK lymph found, the pre-
sence of which is sufficient to prove that he
was not drowned that the first effects of the
blow were IN some degree recovered from, and
the circulation Of the blood was re established.
} In death by lightning, strong shocks Of elec-
trlclty, Cou0 de Sodct, in animals over driven.
and in 1sphyrin by drowning &C., the blood
does not coagulate, the coagulating power of
the fibrin being destroyed.
}, The want of external bruise or injury, is no
evidence OF there being no internal injury; ca
ses OF which have seen, and an instance is re-
J corded IN which criminal under sentence of
death determined to anticipate the law by self,
destruction. Having no other means of accom-
plshlng his purpose he stopped his head and
ran violently against the wall of his cell he
immediately fell dead, and no external mark of
confusion showed itself on his forehead.
The absence Of the usual results is to be no.
tced IN the case of blows on the stomach
the well known fact of sttidcn death not unfre-
quently resulting from blow on the stomach,
especially atrer full meal, without any per-
ceptlblc lesion of the viscera, clearly indicates
that an impression upon the widely spread
coei'Gc pierus OF the sympathetic nerves (which
Will be much more extensively communicated
to them when the stomach is full than when it
IS empty, may cause tie immediate cessation
OF the heart action in the same manner as q
violent injury to the brain or spinal cold.
\ ct 1T is well known that many Of the ordi-
nary vital processes will take place in the in
iurcd parts after death Of more lingering ma
ture the vitality of the individual organs not
being destroyed, Immediately on the ;, verance
of the chain which binds together the different
functions.
The peculiarly hepatizcd condition of the
back part of the lungs is also evidence that life
had continued for some time after receiving
the injury, and that the deceased must have
, laid on.his back, as this hepatizcd condition
can take place only during life
i base my opinion against the deceased being
: drowned upon the following:
]. Had he been drowned no rLots of blood
would have been found at the above named
points
9. Had he received the blow from another
person as he fell into the water death woulC
have been too quict for a codguI,tm.
, 3. 1t is not very probable he hit himself il
falling overheard and if he had, no coagulun
; could have had time to form.
a. II death had been instantaneous. there
D would have been no patches of vmpL found
s. The presence of flamentous patches q
lymph is an evidence that he lived suficicntI,
long for the repaSative process 10 have COM
}, mcnced &c. ''''
e In conclusion, | would say that I have OK
r amlned over 81 eases Of persons s,lpnosed Z,
have been decentralization from the watorN
, and in no instance have met one with NOR.
interest and clearer evidence, that the dcccoset
came to his death by vioteHce, and that he ,nG
!. dedd when cast into the water. Wv
d am, sir, yours truly,
= CIIAs ID. GREEN, MD.