It would seem that
injury to the muscular walls of the heart is much less efficient
in the production of immediate death than destruction of the
cardiac nervous mechanism, serious irritation of the latter
producing almost instantaneous death from shock. In addition,
Hall cites several of the instances on which he based his
conclusions. He mentions two wild geese which flew respectively
1/4 and 3/4 of a mile after having been shot through the heart,
each with a pellet of BB shot, the base in each instance being
uninjured; in several instances antelope and deer ran several
rods after being shot with a rifle ball in a similar manner; on
the other hand, death was practically instantaneous in several of
these animals in which the base of the heart was extensively
lacerated. Again, death may result instantaneously from wounds of
the precordial region, or according to Erichsen, if held directly
over the heart, from the discharge of a pistol containing powder
alone, a result occasionally seen after a blow on the precordial
region. It is well, however, to state that in times of
excitement, one may receive an injury which will shortly prove
fatal, and yet not be aware of the fact for some time, perhaps
even for several minutes.
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