Maschka, quoted by
Warren, reports the case of a boy of twelve, who was struck on
the anterior portion of the larynx by a stone. He fell lifeless
to the ground, and at autopsy no local lesion was found nor any
lesion elsewhere. The sudden death may be attributed in this case
partly to shock and partly to cerebral anemia.
Soldiers have been seen to drop lifeless on the battle-field
without apparent injury or organic derangement; in the olden
times this death was attributed to fear and fright, and later was
supposed to be caused by what is called "the wind of a
cannon-ball." Tolifree has written an article on this cause of
sudden death and others have discussed it. By some it is
maintained that the momentum acquired by a cannon-ball generates
enough force in the neighboring air to prostrate a person in the
immediate vicinity of its path of flight.
CHAPTER X.
SURGICAL ANOMALIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK.
Injuries of such a delicate organ as the eye, in which the
slightest accident can produce such disastrous consequences,
naturally elicit the interest of all. Examples of exophthalmos,
or protrusion of the eye from the orbit from bizarre causes, are
of particular interest. Among the older writers we find Ficker
and the Ephemerides giving instances of exophthalmos from
vomiting.
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