The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-11

to the nerve centres of the brain. and
produces u direct conclusion Of the
brain, but not necessarily fatal in.
Jury.
When two well-trnined and healthy
pugilists enter the ring their stomachs
arc empty. Thus is II large part of the
danger to life avoided. But if pugilis,
has any heart difficulty. however
slight, blow on the pit of the stomach,
may prove fatal
There are Il number of cases in mcdi-
cal history where death has been caused
by blow in the pit of the stomach.
One of these is that of Mr.. Lambert.
who died immediately after receiving
blow from the fist of one of gang
of rioters He had just dincd before
the blow was struck. An autopsy failed
TO show any mark of injury. although
there were few dark red spots on the
internal surface of the stomach. ana
these were only marks of external con.
fusion. The brain was found to be
healthy. DR.. Post and Sir Ashley
Cooper report other cases of a similar
nature.
Following is an expert opinion on this
subject given in Wharton & STILES
Medical Jurisprudence:
The possibility of person dying
from shock attendant upon an injury
which by itself appears to be unimport-
ant is attcstcd By experience. Many
theoretical explanations have been of
fercd to account for this fact, consid-
Grafton of which would here be out of
place. The shock from an injury may
prove fatal in two cases.
First, when the blow leaves no trace
behind it, and second, where great vio-
lcncc has been done to some important
organ without occasioning u sufficient
amount of hemorrhage to produce
death.
eff person receive, for instance. n
violent blow in the pit of the stomach,
or behind the car, he may be- almost in
simultaneously deprived of life. On
post-mortcm examination there may be
found externally but slight marks OF
confusion, and internally neither lac
Grafton, fracture nor hemorrhagc by
which the cause can lie brought into
any visible relation with the fatal re-
suit"
Space will not permit the giving OF
other authorities on this subject which,
while they might be interesting to the
professional mind, would not bc thor
oughly clear to the unprofcssional.
Sullivan has said Il pugilist Gun more
easily knock out an opponent with big
than with little gloves. lie is right. a
big glove covers more space, and brings
he blow with more force and with
greater case than does n smaller one
Again, for fear the writer may be
misunderstood, it Will be well to re.
peat: No healthy pugilist, well trained,
is likely to be killed by blow from he
hist OF an antagonist. providing lie OBJ
serves the rules laid down for pugilists
about to enter contest; that is, in re-
gard to eating, etc.
Donovan, in the writer's opinion (al-
ways taking into consideration that he
does not know whether an autopsy was
made, and, if SO, what its result might
have becn) was probably not killed by
the mere shock of the Knockout blow
from Dunfcc's fist-that is, providing
he was in condition
Proper training enters largely into
the study of such cases. If, as already
stated, Donovan was in good condition.
he must have suffered from some or
ganic trouble, perhaps unknown to him
self or friends, or he would have rccoy-
cred (evcn after hours of unconscious
ness) from tho mere effects of the fist
blow, no matter what the strength with
which it was delivered.