The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-08-11
SIGNALS OF DEATH
They Give Assurance That Life Is
Really Extinct.
TESTS THAT WILL NOT FAIL.

apart From Rigor Mortis, Positive
Sign of Death, the Artery Opening
and Fluorescein Tests Provide Bar
Against Premature Burial.
When the doctor pronounces the
patient dead, is he sure? And. if not,
what tests can remove all doubt? This
question, though not often spoken, is
friends and relations at every death
bed.
As death is the worst of all disasters
and no mistake could be more awful
than premature burial, it is not merely
interesting. but important, for people
TO know what tests are conclusive and
what are not.
When the breathing stops and no
sound Of heart beat or pulse can be de
tected there is little doubt of death.
But the little doubt is in itself so dread
full that these common signs are pot
enough. If the body grows slowly
but steadily cool the doubt is lessened.
but by no means removed. Nor is it
sign of life if after dropping the tenn
perature it suddenly rises again.
The placing of a mirror in front of
the mouth and nostrils is Il we'll known
lest. The theory is that even the faint
est breath will dim the mirror. This
test is not only worthless. but likely
20 cause false hopes. Gases generated
N the body very frequently issue from
the mouth and form a mist upon the
mirror.
Steel needles are sometimes thrust
into the muscles for O period Of an
hour and then examined. If the per-
son is alive the oxygen of the blood
should rust the needle, if dead should
not. This test in actual practice is
unreliable, and no faith can be placed
In it.
Another cause of false hopes is the
custom of placing glass of water
filed to the edge on the breast. The
/ slightest movement of the lungs will
cause a drop to spill. This, too, is
valueless. because after death there
are invariably certain movements of
the muscles known as "cadaveric
spasms,' which are often energetic
enough to spill the water.
Probably one of the most infallible
tests is the opening of an artery. In
life the arteries are full of blood IN
der pressure. In death the arteries
drain into the veins. This is a very
fortunate fact, as it prevents the IN
dertaker from making any mistake.
The embalming fluid is injected by
opening an artery. Should blood flow
he knows that life still persists and is
warned in time.
Cutting the skin TO see if blood will
flow from the veins proves nothing. as
it often flows as late as three days
after death
The y ray, when it is available, pro-
vides an excellent proof of death. A
photograph of live being shows the
heart with a blurred outline. This is
caused by even the faintest movements
of the organ. An X ray exposure Of
a dead person reveals the heart clear
cut and sharp.
There are numberless so called tests
Of the eye. its shrinkage in size, the
dimming and Jogging Of the trans
parent part and other signs. These
} signs are not sufficient proof. nor, is
the test of flashing a bright light in
Even atropine dropped on the eye
ball brings no evidence. 1t has been
proved that the drug will dilate the
eye some time after death.
Many persons think electricity APP
piled in the form of shocks is test.
1t is of no avail, as the muscles usually
respond to the current for three hours
or more after death.
Proof beyond question is supplied
when the stiffening known as ''rigor
mortis" sets in. Hysteria. catalepsy
and other states often simulate that
stiffness. Rigor mortis begins in one
part of the body. usually the muscles
of the throat, and gradually extends
throughout the body. while the various
living forms of muscle stiffness come
, on instantly and belong to all the
muscles.
The so called 'diaphanous" test is
unreliable. If you hold your hand
close to a candle or other bright light
the fingers show a certain rosy trans
lucency. the bones appearing as din
shadows. After death the finger.
usually become as opaque as If made
Of marble. But exceptions are fire.
quent enough to make the test worth
less.
A harmless but very powerful dy'
! called fiuorescein will settle all doubt!
very quickly. If hypodermic syringe
. is used TO inject a little of this dyt
. under the skin it has no result on
: dead person. But If this be done t
pne in whom there is the slightest trac,
Of circulation there follows at once a.
: unmistakable and startling result. TIL
entire skin becomes a golden yellow
and the whites of the eyes turn al
q emerald green. The effects pass ava,
= soon after the pulse and breathing
S are restored. This and the test OF open
ing an artery are probably the only in
Il faIlihIa death tests -NnU York Press