The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-12-31
SIGNALS OF Death
They Give Assurance That Life Is
Really Extinct
TESTS THAT WILL NOT FAIL.

Apart From Rgor 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
probably present i'll 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
full 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 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 mist upon the
mirror.
Steel needles are sometimes thrust
into the muscles for 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 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 I'M
der pressure. In death the arteries
| drain into the veins. This is very
fortunate fact. as it prevents the I'M
| 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 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
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 bright light in
| the eye to see if the pupil contracts.
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 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 "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
Iucency. the bones appearing as dim
shadows. After death the fingers
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 dye
called fiuorescein will settle all doubts
very quickly. If hypodermic syringe
is used to inject little of this dye
under the skin it has no result on
dead person. But if this be done to
one in whom there is the slightest trace
of circulation there follows at once an
unmistakable and startling result. The
entire skin becomes a golden yellow
and the whites of the eyes turn an
emerald green. The effects pass away
soon after the pulse and breathing
are restored. This and the test of open
ing an artery are probably the only in
fallible death tests.-New York Press.
To Prevent Accidents.
Nov. who can tell me three meth
ode of ororon+;nr accidnntS ~ asked