The parents refused to believe that
death had ensued. Richardson remarks that he had seen two similar
cases, and states that he believes the change is due to oxidation
of the blood surcharged with carbon dioxid. The moist tissues
suffuse carbonized blood, and there occurs an osmotic interchange
between the carbon dioxid and the oxygen of the air resulting in
an oxygenation of the blood, and modification of the color from
dark venous to arterial red.
A peculiar postmortem anomaly is erection of the penis. The
Ephemerides and Morgagni discuss postmortem erection, and Guyon
mentions that on one occasion he saw 14 negroes hanged, and
states that at the moment of suspension erection of the penis
occurred in each; in nine of these blacks traces of this erectile
state were perceived an hour after death.
Cadaveric perspiration has been observed and described by several
authors, and Paullini has stated that he has seen tears flow from
the eyes of a corpse.
The retardation of putrefaction of the body after death sometimes
presents interesting changes. Petrifaction or mummification of
the body are quite well known, and not being in the province of
this work, will be referred to collateral books on this subject;
but sometimes an unaccountable preservation takes place.
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