The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-10-30
SIGNALS Of DEATH
They Give Assurance That Life Is
Really Extinct.
TESTS THAT WILL NOT FAIL.

Against Premature Burial.
When the doctor ~prOnounces the
patient dead. is he sure? And. If not,
hat tests can remove all doubt? This
question, though not often spoken, Is
probably present in the minds OF
friends and relations ut 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 50 dread
full that these ommo 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
p%erature it suddenly rises again.
The placing Of Il mirror in front OF
the mouth and nostrils is a we'll 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. 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 1t.
Another cause Of false hopes is the
custom Of placing Il glass of water
filled to the edge on the breast. The
slightest movement OF the lungs will
cause 4 drop to spill. This. too. Is
yalueless. 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 emhalming fluid is injected by
opening an artery. Should blood flow
he knows that life still persists and is
warned in time.
Cutting the skin 10 see if blood will
flow from the veins proves nothing. as
it often flows as lite as three days
after death.
He \ ray. when it is available. pro
vides IN excellent proof Of death. 4
photograph If i lie being shows the
heart with a blurred outline. This is
caused by even tile faintest movements
Of tte organ. An \ ray exposure Of
a aead person reveals the heart clear
rtt anil sharp.
There are numlefless so called tests
of tie eye. lis ~shrinGa9e in size, The
diaaain- ana fagsing Of the trans
parent i4lrt and other >isHs. These
siaAs are sufficient nloos. nar, II
the test al t~asf4ils 4 bright l.-At in
the eSe u sec II he Iuiil eoaiyas.s.
Even atfopiae dropped on tie eye.
taa htinss no efi8saee. i las been
proved that Tie drug VIII a5l4te the
c.A some tlnle after death.
Atahf persons think electricity ap
!!iea ia the FORM 81 shocks IS Z test.
+ ~ q no aitiii. ~ tae muscles usually
ieei3aH3 ~ 1ae current i0l tifee aa'lFs
W. more alstf arti4
ioe& lyons question ss s3Itl.t.h
N1sa t4e SttAe34a4 hh9N3 .s lssaE
lA3.s5 se17 re. i1]ste#il. es.f@#sils8
lAt 8t@5t sttsS9 9tt5h Slftsdfs5& tA#}t
%'45i@9 A@5t iaatt49 ae5fIs ~ 0a9
it'6l - she R-hdllt 1at as
~ IS '4A os.3. st8#3 rt&0iat6 esA@A4a
3H~ila@a8#l tA9 a#54+ WIG iae Various
e l5lS t9ffla g lI35sfte slltths. e3lie
ea tast.3.af aI4 iGt0A2 81 Al tue
@aH53 Aa"a8t n
49, 4s241 .@.s 4sst'
: