The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-23


New York, April 22.-The report of the
death of a pugilist of the name of Dono-
van. following ring contest with one
Dunfcc. also a pugilist, at Syracuse, was
widely published Immediately after the
occurrence The newspapers also inform
MS that a number of those interested in
thefight. including Dunfce, were arrested.
These facts are merely mentioned as an
Introduction to the question: VIII blow
from fist cause death3
Prize-hghting is a subject with which
the medical profession has little to do. 1t
is not pastime that appeals to mankind
generally. 1t is a brutal sport, but this
is not material The question: Is it
possible for blow from fist to cause
death? is one that should be carefully
dealt with. 1t opens wide field, and to
consider it lightly would be to slight
subject which is of great interest TO the
community at large and especially to fol-
lowers of puCillSm.
In the prize ring-and here let il be
understood, please, that the writer knows
nothing of this kind of sport" and has
never witnessed such an exhibition in his
life-blOws are to be expected. We have
premcditated and accidental blows. In
the accidental class a blow, while struck
pcmCditatively, may not be landed ON
any particular part Of the anatomy. In
the prcmeditated blow of the pugiliSt
some vulnerable point is desired to be
reached, as, for instance, the side of the
jaw or a spot over the heart.
The purpose of the pugiliSt is not to kill
his antagonist, but merely to disable him
SO that he cannot respond to the call for
the next round.
John l.. Sullivan, whom the writer eX-
amined lin his capacity as a physician
before his fight with COrbett, said he al
ways tried to disable his antagonists by
striking them over the heart or on the
side Of the jaw. Blows delivered on these
parts of the body, in Sullivan's case, were
always more "effeCtual' than others, and
if they did not knock his opponent i'm
mediately into Inconsistencies, aided
largely in securing him victory.
Sullivan, though he had no anatomical
knowledge whethera blow on the stomach
or one over the heart was more effective
than one on the side of the jaw, was
aware from experience that the blow on
the side of the jaw did its work more
quickly and more completely than one de-
lyered on either of the two parts named.
1t was by means Ola blow on the side
Of The jaw. the newspapers tell us, that
Pugilist Donovan lost consciousness and
died some hours later.
But did Donovan die from the Shock Of
the blow, or was he suffering at the time
from some disease which, added to the
shock, caused his death?
Let the reader strike himself or herself
smartlY over the side of the Jaw and note
the shock, measured, of course by the
force of the blow Immediately its effect
Is telt I'm the disturbance Of equilibrium.
Shock may be gradual or sudden. A
man OF sound health is capable of recciv-
ing more punishment than another who is
not so healthy In the case of a healthy
man, if he is struck repeatedly on certain
parts of his body, the shock to his nerves
Will be gradual. In the unhealthy mans
case one blow of the same force as the
dozen received by the healthy man will
often be sufficient to cause sudden shock,
or, IN ring parlance, knockout.
At this time another question suggests
itself Is it possible to kill an unhealthy
man with blow OF the fist Decidedly,
YES. II any of the organs are diseased,
sQch disease, combined with the shock of
Inc blow. IS likely to cause death
Is Ii possible to kill a healthy man with
blow Of the fist. Yes, but naturally,
not so easy as in the case of the unhealthy
man, for the reason already given.
When two men train hard and faith
iuIiy for prize-hght and en4er the ring
III perfect condition, providing they have
no organic or even functional trouble |
contend that it is improbable that one can
De killed instantly by the force of a blow
from the others fist. or that he may die
Iater from its effects. He may lie in an
unconscious state for many hours, but
unless there is an internal ailmcnt or the
oraln receives an accidental and direct
injury by pressure from fractured skull
or ruptured blood vessel, he has every
chance for recovery.
ID a majority of cases death from shock
ana especially in cases where blow OF
the INST was the alleged cause, the au-
lonSy showed evidences Of disease
Inc writer does not know the result
The autopsy, riff one was held. in the case
Ease OF PuSllist Donovan. and is unable,
therefore, to talk intelligently about this
particular case. 1t is almost an assured
IdcJ, however, that death in this case was
not caused by the blow alone.
SULLIVAN experience as a ''knOcl1er-
oUJ indicated he was right in selecting
lle size OF the jaw near the chin as the
most vulnerable point. A blow on the
.op OF side OF the head, or on the temples
ut on the back of the neck, or in the
stomach, are all liable to knock a man
UuI' put none are so sure of accomplishing
ms purpose as a hard blow delivered on
Ihe side Of the chin.
4, Nhen the side of the chin is struck
me central poise of the head is disturbed
Ill Two directions sideways and back
MdtaS-and the victim is doubly knocked
from his balance.
Edch special sense has a nerve center
81 one receives a blow on the nose, behind
siIe car, etc, it is communicated to the
nerve centres of abe brain, and produces
ulrect conclusion of the brain, but not
necessarily fatal one
When two well-trained and healthy
pu4Llsts enter the ring their stomachs
are empty. Thus is large part Of the
Gdhger to life avoided. But If a pugilist
nq2 any heart difficulty. however slight
u oloW on the pit of the stomach may
Lhefe are number of cases in medical
history where death has been caused by
a o-oW IN the pit Of the stomach. One OF
i1nese IS that of Mr.. Lambert who died
ttIlllLulesolately after receiving a blow from
LIIG nsJ OF one of gang of rioters. He
udu Just dined before the blow was
S,rueh. An autopsy failed to show any
FaatA OF Injury, although there were
r." dark red spots on the internal sur
80 OF inc stomach, and these were only
,.arAS OF external confusion The brain
SaS found TO be healthy. DR.. Post and
s en- Asuey Cooper report other cases of a
SIMILAR nature
olloWlng is an expert opinion on this
rt''ect given in Wharton 4 STILES Modi-
0al jurisprudence.
noe ~. 20.