Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-04
TESTS OF DEATH.

The subject of the danger OF prema-
| attention, perhaps In some measure
| owing to the frequent references to
this most important subject in the
| Care of the Body. 1t has been stated
| that there is no absolutely certain test
| OF death known to the medical fratornl-
ty, except decomposition-and that sell
! dom has a chance to set In before
| burial. in this country. where the fun
| eral follows the deccase with such in
| decent haste. On the other hand in
recent number of the daily Times. Hec-
tor Alliot of Los Angeles had a COM
| munlcation in which he mentions sew
| oral tests OF death which he declares
are certain. They are surely "impor
tant If true" The following extract
from Mr. Alliots communication is re-
produced, for the benefit of those num-
crous readers of the Care of the Body
who do not see the daily Times:
The infallible test OF death is the in
lection of fluorescin solution. II those
to whom this possibility of being in
tered alive Is torturing thought
should request that some hours before
their burial their bodies be thus treat
ed. they need have no more fear.
"FluoreScn is the most powerful pig
ment of which we have knowledge. 1t
is a non-poisonouS substance, and
readily obtainable. So marvellous is it's
color strength that it tints water ysibly
green In the proportion of one part TO
80 millions. A few tiny grains Will color
gallons of water If. therefore. into the
veins of one supposedly dead there
inf h,t. Of
dermic needle three cubic centimeters
of highly-coored lluorescin solution,
the result would be absolutely conclu-
sive
''In the case of positive death there
would be no change whatever In the
body's appearance. Should the patient
be still alive however, should the heart
action revive but for a few moments
between the time of the injection of
the fluid and the hour of burial, the
blood would carry the nuorescin to the
skin surface Of the entire body, color
Ing the cXtremities Il saffron hue. turn
ing the face a yellowish color, and
making the eyes as green as emeralds.
Upon the appearance Of any OF these
changes. restoratIVes would be applied
and burial would not take place. Should
the supposed dead be restored to health
and strength. the f1uorescln solution,
feet except jaundlced appearance
which would disappear In short time.
''ThS method. while easy of applca-
tion In cities would be impracticablc,
possibly. in small towns, mining re-
gions and remote places. where death
test is most needed, since prema ture
burials are often the result of haste
and ignorance. and lack of medical at
tention. Two very simple means may
be employed of finding out whether or
no death has taken place.
Acetate of lead is obtainable in any
drug store. If with a saturated solu-
tion of this substance lines are drawn
upon a piece of whito writing paper
they remnfn invisible. BY placing tho
paper upon which the lines nave been
made over the opening of the nostrils
OF the dead person. painted side in
ward. the lines will in a few hours be-
come black and distinctly visible.
should the person be really dead If 20
change occurs in the white paper. life
is still present. Decomposition first
manifests itself in the lungs. and the
gases arising therefrom find outlet
through the nosti1ls; these fumes com
ing in contact with the acetate of lead
upon the paper. form chemical com
binaton that turns the invisible lines
black. Thus we have an absolutely
simple and unquestionable proof OF
death.
"Where the acetate Of lead is not
procurable. there is still simpler proof
which Is equally conclusive Two
bright. shiny silver dimes may each
have piece OF paper pasted securely
SO as to cover half OF ono side: these
coins may be inserted papered side in
ward. in the nostrils of the dead.
Should death really have taken place
these coins will within "a or Sc hours
become duh and blackencd on the cx-
posed portions. while the surface Gov
cred by the paper will have remained
bright. The same chemical process that
made the acetate OF lead turn black
VIII also color the silver coin. II is
the indubltable proof OF incipient de-
composition.
with such simple means at hand. il
would seem that no one need f,or
premature burial. The general alhoIt
compulsory, use of fluorescln solution
by undertakers everywhere would for
ever remove dread from those III and
dying. and allay one more fear Of suT-
iering humanlty."-Los Angeles 1'Imes