The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-05-24
SURE SIGN OF DEATH.
ONE SIMPLE TEST THAT, 1T is Al
LEGGED, NEVER FAILS.

- -" ""hS ~
Explains His Method OF Preventing
Premature Burial.
The question of an absolutely sure
Sign of death has troubled mankind
from ancient times. 1t has been most
variously answered, but never to en-
tire satisfaction. The difficulties
meet with are: First, that not all or
gans of the body die In one moment,
and second, that the action of some OF
the vital organs may be so diminished
that by ordinary means it appears al-
most impossible to decide whether the
life in them is in fact extinct or not.
The actual causes of physiological
death arc three: First, cessation Of
brain function; second, cessation Of
respiration or failure of the lungs;
third, failure of the heart.
The first, involving immediate death
of the central or animal nervous sys-
TEN only, is not ut once followed by
the inactivity of the periphcral nervous
system and its special so called vcgcta-
tive ccntcrs. aus long ago was demon
stratcu by Brown-Sequard. Schitf aud
others. SO the lungs may continue to
Sohtid't anu tNlitutl tIt HtHII HAY
continue to beat, even if with greatly
diminished power. We know further
that tie life Of the skin is not extinct
Hair and nails continue to grow, the
stomach continues to digest. the liver
to Sccrctc bile, etc. Respecting the sec
ond cause Of death, we well know that
respiration may cease for quite awhile
IL the brain is not affected and the cir
culation not Interrupted. And of the
third cause. by heart failure. the same
may be said. So we see that we may
speak of true, absolute physiological
death only after the cessation OF func-
ton Of the three organs together or at
least of two of them, the lungs and the
heart, without the life action of which
the brain certainly cannot operate.
Now, rs regards respiration VIC have
very simple means to demonstrate it's
cessation. SO remains, in fact. as the
only one to show its true death the
heart This to prove indeed with abso
lutte certainty is quite difficult prob
lem. Upon the absence therefore Of
any and all traces Of circulation in the
body have been concentrated NEST cX-
perimcnts. And as regards the same
We have to take into consideration that
by disease the heart beats might lie di
miniShcd to but so few faint pulSGtiCns
per minute, might become so muprccn-
tihle. that without the aid of special in
strumcnts and long continued oEscrva
tions nothing Of their existence may he
detected.
In the following shall give the SIM
pie means by which any person easily
enough may convince himself OF the alb
Spncc or presence even Of the slightest
traces Of circulation:
If we ligIte tight Il member Of the
body-bcst. for example, Il finger be-
tween the first and second joint--in the
living we will soon notice, beginning al
most t once. q reddish coloration of the
portion above the ligaturc. 1t becomes
darker and darker red and finally as
sumcs a dark blush red color. The
entire upper portion will be thus af-
fcctcd, and only directly around the lig-
ature there Will be small, colorlcss,
white ring. Now, as sure rs this dis
coloration will he observed in the living
being, as sure will all traces OF it he
assent in the dead. The blush discolor-
alton occasionally observed of and
around the finger nails in some corpses
Is OF no influence upon, nor does it IN.
terfcre in the slightest with, the phc-
nomcnon md its correct Interpretation.
The phenomenon of course is easily
enough explained in the living by the
Stagnation Of the blood In the veins
and the capiliaIies when new supply
through the arteries ana the backfiow
through the veins is cut off by the liga-
turc. The white ring around the latter
is produced ~ the partial arterial, par
tial venOuS annmia.
In place Of Il finger. If, as it Mt times
may happen, the skin seems too thick
ana horny to show the phenomenon
plainly, though this will but seldom oc-
cur, ono may use tie toes. the earlaps.
even the tip of the nose. If desired. The
member must be only thin enough In
order to make the liGaturc as tight and
perfect rs possible.
| have used this means in about 030
to 1.CI0 cases previous to post mortcm
examinations.
In one case only observed the men
toned dis2cloration, though 1t was
impossible to notice any heart action
by any means. l at once rcSOrtcd to
vcncscction, and, sure enough, the
blood flowed, and after short time
faint heart beats up to seven per
minute could be distinguished. Every
thing was done to start respiration.
Yet 1t wGs too late and the heart beats
within half an hour gradually dimin-
ished. The corpse had been lying
for dead for over two hourS.-Dr. Theo-
dore Deecke in Utica Press.
ICE CREAM.