The pericardium may now be laid open by a longitudinal incision, and we should note the quantity of fluid found in this cavity; in that of a healthy subject there is generally as much as a tea-spoonful of serum. It is important also that we should observe the quality, as well as quantity, of this liquor. Blood has occasionally been found in this situation, when neither a rupture of the heart, or any of its vessels could be discovered; in such cases Dr. Baillie is of opinion that the blood has either passed through the coats of the vessels upon the surface of the heart, by transudation, or been poured out by the relaxed extremities of the small vessels opening upon the surface of that portion of pericardium which
- [Footnote: the outer surface of the right ventricle a patch of lymph like a thin
layer of coagulated albumen. Several smaller spots of the same kind on the right auricle; but none of them penetrated into the substance.
"Abdomen. The liver adhered in numerous parts, and very extensively to the peritoneum. The stomach was enormously large and distended with food and air; the small intestines were also somewhat more distended than usual, but exhibited no appearance of disease sufficient to account for the death of the patient. The spleen was small and unhealthy, having several white patches on its surface.
"Thus far no satisfactory explanation of the cause of death appeared. And here, according to the usual mode of conducting examinations, the investigation would have terminated, but I consider it essential in every case to examine the air-passages. On examining the bronchiæ of the left side, the principal ramifications and some of the smaller were filled with a pultaceous substance of a dirty greenish hue and heterogenous texture, resembling food which had undergone some degree of digestion: it completely filled the left bronchia. The right bronchia and its ramifications were quite filled with similar matter, and the trachea was also completely filled at the lower part, so that breathing in such a state must have been impossible. That the matter filling up the air passages consisted of chyme from the stomach became evident, from its perfect similarity to that which remained in the stomach."
Since the receipt of the above interesting communication from Mr. Alcock, we have found upon an inquiry amongst the carcase butchers, that the presence of food in the pulmonary passages is by no means a rare occurrence in those animals that have been struck on the head.]
