Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-01-23

We directed our attention was the appear
ance and state of preservation OF the body.
| 1t was greatly discolored, the surface was al
most greenish black, except some parts
Immediately over the abdomen, and one
| side of the face, that which probably rested
on the coffin, where the air hadn't free ac-
| cess to it. The skin would come off readily
when the touch was applied. TIE nails CT the
toes were loosened and the hair was easily de-
tached from the scalp. Expressing the limbs,
which were swollen they had the feeling of
crepitation. The eye balls protruded aud
lay upon the cheeks; the humors had burst
them. DIR. Hartswick then opened the cav
ity of the belly, with scalpe, and we noted
the appearance of the viscera the bowels
and stomach. The bowels appeared to be in
a relatively better state of preservation thar
the balance of the body. We were struck
with the appearance OF the small intestiues,
which were of a bright yellow color, un-
usually so-some unusual vascularity of the
peritoneum indicating infamatory action
We next looked TO the stomach. It didn't
present itself on the surface OF the body ,and
we searched for it. 1t was empty, when
found which accounts for our not seeing it.
We proceeded to remove 1t, by tying lig
ature above it where it is connected with
the gullet, and tied the lower extremity.
Before doing this, We held it to the light,
and noted the appearances. 1t was very
much contracted. 1t contained perhaps a
teaspoonful of bloody fluid. Considerable
portions of 1T presented the evidence of hav-
ing been highly infamed One portion of
it, just below he gullet, had blistered or
vesicular appearance. 1t was, moreover.
unnaturaliy Opaque; the tissues were not
translucent, not as much as ordinarily. The
vessels of the stomach were greatly infect
ed. The stomach and portion of the duode
mum were removed and placed in charge of
DIR. Burchfeld. In cutting open the duod
enum we observed some dark patches of ex-
travasated blood Some yellow pasty mat
ter seemed to cover that portion of the sur
face of the bowels. When we opened the
smaller intestines we noticed this yellow col
or. We noticed also on the left side of the
body an old hernia, ii went clear through.
We found no evidence of strangulated her
MIA. Made an examination of the thorax,
found considerable decomposition in the
lungs Examined the heart, found one OF
the valves considerably ossified.
Cross -erdnained-Neve before examin-
ed a stomach in this state of decomposition.
Have examined bowels and stomach of dead
bodies, and know something of the effects of
infammatory condition. [ believe the vel
low pasty matter, if [ recollect correctly,
was only in the duodenum. A portion Of
clothing Immediately over the breast, press
ed very closely. That was the impression
made Oh my mind but whether obtained
from personal observation or from what |
heard others say, is not so clearly within
my recollection.
Dr. JAMES p BURCHFIELD. affirmed. =
Was present at the post mortem examina-
ton A portion of the stomach and duod- |
enum of Miller were placed in my custody. |
Put them in Jar and sealed them up. Took |
the jar to Philadelphia. and placed it in the |
hands of Charles P. Williams, chemist.
CHARLES p. WILLIAMS, sworn.-I am
practical chemist. Received from DIR.
Burchfeld some matter for analysis. On
the lst day of August commenced investi
CATION. The matter was represented to me
as stomach and duodenum. [ made a
chemical examination of it. | examined it
for arsenic | found no arsenic in it. l
used Marsh test.
Cross -ecan,iaed If there had been arsenic
in it, L am certain [ would have found it |
from the process used. A very small frac
this test.
DIR. j. G. HARTswICK, re- called.-l went |
back to FrenchVille after the post mortem
several weeks, | think, after
the first. The remains were again exhumed.
Prot. Rand, OF Philadelphia, and DIR. VIII
son were with me- When the coffin was
opened, the soft tissues were almost entire
lydecomposed, except that portion OF ofthemIn
the cavity of the pelvis Think portion
Of the rectum was left tundecomposed Ihe
organic matter was placed In jars Portions
of the shroud and wrappings were taken
out and also placed in jars. The jars were
placed in custody of Prof Rand.
Cross escdnained.-Don't remember dis
tinctly, but think there were three jars
Some care was taken to assert the matter
the wrappings placed in one, and that por
ton supposed to be the rectum in another
other portions scraped up, were put in a
third jar Can say what time we got there.
The body was in a small log house near the
grave yard. The coffin was there. The body
was in the coffin. The coffin and remains [
think were brought in after we got there.
Am not certain. An old gentleman named
Bigleman exhumed the body. Think | was
not at the grave [ think the lid of the cot
Gin was broken in, but am not clear on this
subject 1t was brought to US by some 9th
er persons | was on the ground during the
whole of the first inquest. | think the body
was not re-interred before | left on the first
visit. The inquest adjourned to Mulson-
,urg. Was not present when the body was
]isinterred the second time. Did not re-
main long there with DR.. Rand. DOM t re-
.ollect what kind of coffin was there the
second time. ] think two men brought in ,
,he coffin.
JOHN BONNER, re called. d.-Was at the in
Iuest when first examination was made, and
lelped to bury him over Was present
Ehen he was put back into the coffin 1t I
vas screwed up, and put inside of rough ..
ofin. Assisted to put it in the grave and ,
Ill it up ,
Cross-eramined. Frederick Hartline, ,Au-
.ustus Mulson, Valentine Hoffman, and T. {