An essay on the signs of murder in new born children / translated from the French, of Dr. P.A.O. Mahon, ... by Christopher Johnson, surgeon, Lancaster: ... with a preface and notes by the translator.

Johnson Christopher.

Date:: 1813

Credit: An essay on the signs of murder in new born children / translated from the French, of Dr. P.A.O. Mahon, ... by Christopher Johnson, surgeon, Lancaster: ... with a preface and notes by the translator. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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$ecchymosis. We know, that during life, blood may be extravasated in different parts of the body, in consequence of various injuries; such extravdsa- tions seem to depend upon the flow of blood towards the parts, and in consequence^ to imply vi- tality. I believe, however, that they do not, with- out exception, afford possitive proof of circulation, and have elsewhere (§XXIX.) pointed out the marks by which the exceptions may be distin- guished. XXXV. Some authors who maintain that the infant cannot live without respiration, adduce in favour of their opinion, the case in which we find the foetus to have died by the mere twisting of the cord round, the neck, assuring us, that the pressure of the cord upon the wind-pipe produces suffocation by obstructing the breath. XXXVI. This absurd reasoning takes that for granted which is the matter of dispute. I ask, if, when the cord twists itself round the arms, the body, or the legs, the same obstruction to respira- tion is produced ? Undoubtedly it is not, never- theless, the foetus sometimes dies, if it remains for any length of time in this situation, especially if the cord is stretched tight; we must therefore assign some other cause, this can only be the pressure upon the umbilical cord, rendering its Vessels impervious, and interrupting the circulation between the mother and the foetus; the eord itself \$