Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology | Page 9

if it has not been identified. A medical man representing the accused
may be present, but only by consent of the Crown authorities or of the
Sheriff. Clothing should be examined for blood-stains, cuts, etc.

Examine external surface of body and take accurate measurements of
wounds, marks, deformities, tattooings; note degree and distribution of
post-mortem staining, rigidity, etc.
Examine brain by making incision from ear to ear across vertex, reflect
scalp forwards and backwards, and saw off calvarium. Examine brain
carefully externally and on section.
Examine organs of chest and abdomen through an incision made from
symphysis menti to pubis, reflecting tissues from chest wall and cutting
through costal cartilages.
In cases of suspected poisoning have several clean jars into which you
place the stomach with contents, intestines with contents, piece of liver,
kidney, spleen, etc., and seal each up carefully, attaching label with
name of deceased, date, and contained organs, and transmit these
personally to the analyst.
=Exhumation.=--A body which has been buried cannot be exhumed
without an order from a coroner, fiscal, or from the Home Secretary.
There is no legal limit in England as to when a body may be exhumed;
in Scotland, however, if an interval of twenty years has elapsed, an
accused person cannot be prosecuted (prescription of crime).

VII.--DEATH FROM ANÆSTHETICS, ETC.
The coroner in England and Wales and Ireland must inquire into every
case of death during the administration of an anæsthetic. The
anæsthetist has to appear at the inquest, and must answer a long series
of questions relative to the administration of the drug.
Before, therefore, giving an anæsthetic, and so as to furnish yourself
with a proper defence in the event of death occurring, you ought to
examine the heart, lungs, and kidneys of the patient to see if they are
healthy. Should a fatal result follow, the anæsthetist will require to
prove that it was necessary to give the anæsthetic, that the one
employed was the most suitable, that the patient was in a fit state of

health to have it administered, that it was given skilfully and in
moderate amount, that he had the usual remedies at hand in case of
failure of the heart or lungs, and that he employed every means in his
power to resuscitate the patient.
The condition of the lungs is of more importance than the state of the
heart.
The chloroformist ought always to use the best chloroform.
An anæsthetic should never be administered except in the presence of a
third person. This applies especially to dentists who give gas to
females.
=Malpractice.=--In every case where a medical man attends a patient,
he must give him that amount of care, skill, knowledge, or judgment,
that the law expects of him. If he does not, then the charge of
malpractice may be brought against him. It is most frequently alleged
in connection with surgical affections--e.g., overlooking a fracture or
dislocation. Before a major operation is performed, it is well to get a
written agreement.

VIII.--PRESUMPTION OF DEATH; SURVIVORSHIP
=Presumption of Death.=--If a person be unheard of for seven years,
the court may, on application by the nearest relative, presume death to
have taken place. If, however, it can be shown that in all probability
death had occurred in a certain accident or shipwreck, the decree may
be made much earlier.
=Presumption of Survivorship.=--When two or more related persons
perish in a common accident, it may be necessary, in order to decide
questions of succession, to determine which of them died first. It is
generally accepted that the stronger and more vigorous will survive
longest.

IX.--ASSAULT, MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER, ETC.
=Assault.=--This is an attempt or offer to do violence to another person;
it is not necessary that actual injury has been done, but evil intention
must be proved. When a corporal hurt has been sustained, then assault
and battery has been committed. The assault may be aggravated by the
use of weapons, etc.
=Homicide= may be justifiable, as in the case of judicial execution, or
excusable, as in defence of one's family or property.
Felonious homicide is murder. This means that a human being has been
killed by another maliciously and deliberately or with reckless
disregard of consequences.
=Manslaughter= or =Culpable Homicide= (Scotland) is the unlawful
killing of a human being without malice--as homicide after great
provocation; signalman who allows a train to pass, and so collide with
another in front.

X.--WOUNDS AND MECHANICAL INJURIES
A wound may be defined as a 'breach of continuity in the structures of
the body, whether external or internal, suddenly occasioned by
mechanical violence.' The law does not define 'a wound,' but the true
skin must be broken. Wounds are dangerous from shock, hæmorrhage,
from the supervention of crysipelas or pyæmia, and from malum
regimen on the part of the