The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1914-10-02
SIGNALS OF DEATH
They Give Assurance That Life Is
Really Extinct.
TESTS THAT WILL NOT FAIL.

Apart From Rieor Mortis, a Positive
Sign of Death, the Artery Opening
and FIuorescein 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
probably present in the minds of
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
ful that these common signs are not
enough. If the body grows slowly
but steadily cool the doubt is lessened,
but by no means removed. Nor is it a
sign of life if after dropping the tenn
perature it suddenly rises again
The placing Of mirror in front of
the mouth and nostrils is a well known
test. The theory is that even the faint
est breath will dim the mirror This
test is not only worthless, but likely
to cause false hopes Gases generated
IN the body very frequently issue from
the mouth and form a mist upon the
mirror
Steel needles are sometimes thrust
into the muscles for a period of an
hour and then examined. II 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 1t.
Another cause Of false hopes is the
custom of placing a glass of water
filled to the edge on the breast. The
slightest movement Of the lungs viii
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 un
der pressure In death the arteries
drain into the veins This is a very
fortunate fact, as it prevents the un-
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
I Cutting the skin to see if blood wil
flow from the veins proves nothing, as
! it often flows as late as three days
after death.
The \ ray. when it is available. pro
vides an excellent proof of death A
+ photograph of a live being shows the
heart with a blurred outline. This Is
caused by even the faintest movements
of the organ. An Y ray exposure OF
a dead person reveals the heart clear
I cut and sharp.
There are numberless so called tests
Of the eye, its shrinkage in size, the
dimming and fogging of the trans
parent part and other signs Thest
signs are not sufficient proof, nor, is
the test Of flashing bright light in
the eye to see If the pupil contracts.
Even atropine dropped on the eye
ball brings no evidence. 1t has beer
proved that the drug will dilate the
eye some time after death.
Many persons think electricity ap
piled in the form of shocks is a 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 "rigoi
mortis' sets in Hysteria, catalepsy
and other states often simulate tina
stiffness, Rigor mortis begins in on,
part of the body, usually the muscle.
Of the throat and gradually extends
throughout the body. while the various
living forms of muscle stiffness com,
on instantly and belong to all th,
muscles.
The so called "diaphanous" test i
unreliable If you hold your hanC
close TO candle or other bright igh
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.
harmless but very powerful dy
called fiuorescein will settle all doubt
very quickly. If a hypodermic syring
is used to inject a little of this dy
under the skin it has no result on
dead person But If this be done t
one in whom there is the slightest trac
of circulation there follows at once q
unmistakable and startling result Th
entire skin becomes Il golden yelloy
and the whites of the eyes turn a
emerald green The effects pass ava
soon aftnr the pulse and breathin
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