A synopsis of medical jurisprudence : from the latest and best authorities forming the basis of lectures on the science / by Henry Howard.

  • Howard, Henry, 1792-1874.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A synopsis of medical jurisprudence : from the latest and best authorities forming the basis of lectures on the science / by Henry Howard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    FORENSIC MEDICINE. WOUNDS. Wounds, in medico legal phraseology, comprise injuries of every kind occasioned by mechanical violence, as bruises, contusions, incisions, fractures, luxations, &c. The chief questions to be decided upon finding a dead and wounded body, are, 1, Was the wound inflicted during life? 2, Was it the cause of death ? 3, Was it the re- sult of homicide, suicide, or accident? Classification of wounds—4 classes. 1, Those absolute- ly mortal. 2, Dangerous wounds. 3, Not mortal. And 4, Accidentally mortal. Wounds absolutely mortal, and which generally occa- sion immediate death, are those of the brain, heart and large vessels connected with it, of the spinal marrow of the neck, and blows on the stomach. Wounds of the brain are less fatal than those of the heart, and these aie not necessarily immediately fatal. Next in order of mortality are those that interfere with respiration, as extensive wounds of the dia- phragm, and wounds of the lungs that lay open both sides of the thorax, thus impeding the dilatation of the lungs. Dangerous wounds are those of the pharynx and sceo- phagus, the stomach andchylopoietic viscera, urinary blad- der, of the large blood vessels of the liver, chest and abdo- men not already mentioned. Severe contusions over any of the great cavities : division of the vessels of the extre- mities: compound fractures, and wounds of the tendons causing tetanus. Wounds not mortal, or slight wounds, are injuries by which the skin and muscles arc contused or divided; and