Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-03-23


: vidual in deep stupor as already dead
ms well rs to hasten tho funeral Pre-
mature burial was probably not ut nj
uncommon in those good old times. y
VI course, this is all pure speculation
bntit is somewhat interesting to those
who take an interest in such matters.
Lato In the progress of organic dis.
case of tho heart particularly when
fatty degeneration has nearly com-
plctcd tho work of destruction that has
been begun by overgrowth and nearly
; finished by overdilatation, there may
come n timo when tho organ becomes
ovcrdistondcd In all its cavities with
blood. The circulation stagnatcs all
over the body, because tho few remain
ing muscular fibers in the heart are so
nearly paralyzed by overstraining that
the contractions of that organ almost
entirely disappear They become inn
porceptible to the touch and car. The
brain receives very little blood, and
what is sent there is deficient in oxy-
gen. AS consequence consciousness
is abolished; the pulse can be no longer
felt in any artery; the surface becomes
cold and blush, and to tho ordinary
observer life appears extinct A few
years ago, Dr. Reid, of Hot Springs,
Ark, reportel case of this kind, in
which, preparations for burial had
been made, but where, by wcll-dirccted
efforts stimulants, friction, etc. ami
nation was restored and life was pro-
longed for several weeks. 1t is proba-
bic that IL premature burial had taken
place in this case, the suspended ami
nation would have beon followed by
death without n return of conscious
ness on the part of the victim. Pro-
found weakening of the hearts action
by other causes, such rs partial suffo-
cation, profuse hemorrhage, etc, may
lead to similar condition Of affairs
1t is only necessary to mention the |
possibility of such an occurrence to
suggest the proper means to BIO used |
to prevent any unfortunate accident |
of tho kind from taking place.
The fear of apparent death being
mistaken for the genuine article has
inspired the most elaborate prepara-
tions against the possibility of such an
event Prizes have been offered for the
discovery of signs which can be implc-
lilly trusted to establish the fact that
death has taken place. Elaborate con-
trivances have been devised to show
by the ringing of bolls, or the breaking
of an electric circuit, that some move
ment had been made by the supposed
dead body. The keeping of the dead
in situations where they can be OBJ
served until the beginning of putre-
faction; the testing of the muscles by
electricity, from time to time. to show
the presence or absence of contractil-
ity; the tieing of ligature around
finger so tightly as to Interfere with
the return of blood through the veins
while the arteries are unobstructed.
have all been suggested. The two
methods last named are the most trust
worthy, and may be relied upon to tell
the truth.
In the true post-mortem rigidity, to
be observed usually within six to eight
hours after life has ceased, the muscles
undergo a change that utterly units
/
them for contractions of any kind, and
this "electro-muscular contractility"
never reanPears ai'er IL mas once
Inc test may DO maoe oy ap-
plying current from galVanlc bat
terry of moderate intensity, either to
the muscle ltselt' or lhtermeniately
.hrougn some large herVe-truhk gong
10 the limb where the muscle is to be
testeu' II Doth 'hese forms Oh electrical
:, ..'''S IAN W PrUuuoo snoi,eh'"S VI
'no 'i",oios ~ ~. ~. io"r '',n"'' =. p"y oo
nv, 'n"' 'i'o 70 t'"''y 1N'."'''
inc eiectricai tesI Is conclusive Dut
10 not a.w"ys nVniiapic' because pat
.ery OF the rignt kihu can not always
uc ,, i'''' Inc llsat"re ABOUT u nhser OF
'huhp Is ,ne next oest 10 DC h"u. Inc
COT" shouiu ho1 oe 'ieo very cioseiy'
o'hcr"'sc 'ho ieepie c'rc"Iat.oh hty
!, Iio' oc sei'' 'hro"Sn tio nr'eries' ~
mere Is any power III ,ie heart ieit, IL
VIII senu htt'e ploou peyohu inc
'ot"' "hicn' ooslruc'ihg the Veihs' VIII
no' permit i. 10 return 10 .he pouy;
o"eii'ig o! 'ne i'.ip oeyohu tue corr
's conclusive e'i"e"ce 'naI iiie sIiii
pers'Sts' "hi,o 'he contrary Is 'he case
4 inc veins 10 not HI 10 an eNIeh. 'naI
. nPPrec,ao,e' IN case uoupe rs 10 lhe
Fen,''y oi uen'i ha''hS unkel Place
sun PERSISTS 'he oooy sno.i' pe KEEP. IN
warm room "h'ii 'nere Is soino slgh
d decomposition 10 oe opserVeu' oh-
iei i sue, oo'iu''ionS' IA ucar" ,,, % senuine'
,he , evi'ehces oi "ec"y VIII ho' pe long ,,
iolnyeu'
Inc Importance oil certain rare forms
d disease OF the nervous system III
apparent death Is often grossly
exaggerated In catalepsy the temper
lture usually ialls little below that OF ,
he healthy human body, but never