The second condition of the blood is found when death resulted from
accident or short duration of sickness. In these instances there is
usually a large abundance of fluids remaining in the system. These
foster fermentation in every structure, and evolve the gases so
rapidly as to cause the cavities of the thorax and abdomen to become
extended to their utmost capacity with gases that induce the blood
to leave the vessels in the thorax and appear at the surface in the
capillary system. In this instance the fibrine and serum of the blood
remain together in an inky or eccymosed condition.
Thus it is observed that the gases are so rapidly evolved by the
destructive fluids, that before the fibrine coagulates it is forced
from the vessels of the thorax (especially the superior vena cava),
and caused to appear above the surface into the neck and face. The
great pressure of the gases depresses the vessels of the thorax in
the same manner that it does the stomach when purging takes place,
which occurs invariably whenever the stomach contains any movable
matter. The lymph, chyle and chyme, which are the same or similar,
as soon as death ensues take on new molecular changes; the lymph
especially, which is retained in all the glands and vessels of the
lymphatic system, enters into the process of decomposition, fostering
putrefaction in the whole structure; while the gastric juice, a
peculiar fluid so subservient to digestion, which affects the food
only during life, immediately attacks the substances of the stomach
when life is extinct, in the same or similar manner as it affected
the food during life, corroding and completely destroying everything
with which it comes in contact, as there is no vitality to resist its
action. Elements having other affinities, and the organism generally,
hurry back to their primeval state. Nature knows no delays. The work
to be done is to disorganize the body and destroy its form. This is
the work of heat, moisture, air and germs in unison, causing the
fluids and tissues of the body to decay rapidly, while the albumenoid
matters are decomposed into fetid gases escaping into the air, which
in a short time accomplish the work of dissolution, leaving the
body a mass of corruption and the receptacle of myriads of germs of
microscopic beings. The corpse is their natural aliment, and death
their chosen laboratory.
The products of putrefying animal matter are carbonic acid, water,
ammonia and carburetted hydrogen gases, which are generally mixed
with various portions of phosphuretted and sulphuretted hydrogen
gases. The blackened or mortified appearance in those instances is
usually caused by the eccymosed or dark blood from the vessels
of the thorax (especially the superior vena cava). The great
pressure of the gases in the abdomen and thorax prevents the liquid
from gravitating to the regions of the heart and large vessels,
producing the black and livid appearance of the face and neck by
its retention in the capillary system of the epidermis. Man has
been facetiously described as twelve pounds of solid matter wet up
with six pails of water; hence, the great abundance of water in
the human structure gives the necessary mobility for putrefaction.
This is proven by this fact: that by drying the animal substances
they are completely preserved. It is thus that the bodies of those
perishing in the Arabian deserts are recovered years subsequently,
dried, but otherwise fresh and life-like. This fact also proves
that the atmosphere and climate in Asia is far more favorable for
the preservation of animal substances than in this country, and the
writer thinks it has far more to do in preserving the many thousand
mummies of the ancient Egyptians than any art or untold science. If
it were not for want of space, I would dwell more upon this subject;
but as the public generally have no desire to be wafted into untold
centuries, I shall confine this writing to further the progress of
science in this direction, if possible. Having no secret nostrum to
impose upon the public, I will offer a few hints which I hope will
prove to be of importance to the profession generally.