Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-10-01
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 Fluoreseein 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, 1t 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 1t
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 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 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 a glass of water
filed to the edge on the breast The
; slightest movement of the lungs will
3 cause a drop to spill. This, too. Is
valueless. because after death there
are invariably certain movements Of
the muscles known as ''cadaveric
enough to spill the water,
Probably one OF the most infallible
e 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 q very
fortunate fact, as 1t 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 IL blood will
g flow from the veins proves nothing, as
1t often flows as late as three days
# after death.
The y ray. when it is available, pro-
II vides an excellent proof of death. A
, photograph of live being shows the
heart with a blurred outline. This Il
caused by even the faintest movements
of the organ. An X ray exposure OF
a dead person reveals the heart clear
cut and sharp.
g. There are numberess so called tests
N OF the eye. its shrinkage in size, the
a. dimming and fogging of the trans
parent part and other signs. These
signs are not sufficient proof, nor, is
the test of flashing a bright light II
the eye to see If the pupil contracts.
II Even atropine dropped on the eye
L ball brings no evidence 1t has beer
proved that the drug will dilate the
0. eye some time after death.
L
N piled in the form of shocks is a test
1t is of no avail, as the muscles usually
respond to the current for three hour.
or more after death.
Proof beyond question is supplied
y when the stiffening known as "rigo
n mortis" sets in. Hysteria, cataleps,
ce and other states often simulate tina
stiffness. Rigor mortis begins in on
part of the body. usually the muscle
of the throat. and gradually extend
throughout the body. while the variou
III living forms Of muscle stiffness com
&c on instantly and belong to all tn
of muscles.
is The so called "diaphanous" test /
ir unreliable. If you hold your ham
m close to a candle or other bright ligh
the fingers show certain rosy trans
lucency. the bones appearing as dir
shadows. After death the finger
usually become as opaque as IL mad
sc of marble. But exceptions are frt
sc quent enough to make the test wortf
a. less.
a A harmless but very powerful dy
AZ called fluorescein will settle all doubt
very quickly. II a hypodermic syring
'e' Is used to inject a little Of this dy
under the skin II has no result on
dead person. But II this be done I
one in whom there is the slightest trac
We OF circulation there follows at once a
.ly unmistakable and startling result Th
IN, entire skin becomes golden yello'
d. and the whites of the eyes turn a
,is emerald green. The effects pass ava
90 soon after the pulse and breathin
- are restored. This and the test of opel
'00 ing an artery are probably the only Il
fallible death tests.--New York Press.