COMING BACK TO LIFE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17419, 1 April 1922, Page 15

COMING BACK TO LIFE.

The recent cas® of a woman in Yorkshire who showed signs of returning life a quarter of an 3:our after the doctor said sho was dead is tm instance of temporarily suspended animation (writes a physician in a London paper). Cessation of circulation and respiration for any but a brief interval of time is in itself sufficient as a rulo to determine the reality of death. Other sign 3 ore—coldness of tho body, rigor mortis, changes in tho eyes, and changes in tlie skin.' Occasionally the apparent suspension of the functions of Jieart and lungs occurs, but they must be quickly re-estab-lished if lifo is to continue. There is authoritatively recorded a well-known case in which tho heart's action was suspended by an act of will. This subject possessed the power of so suspending tho action of the heart that ho could pass into a deep sleep or stupor in wnich neither the pulse nor tho beating of the heart could be felt. A few hours after one of these experiments, however, he died. Another case is recorded in which for eight minutes no heart sounds could be detected, but after twenty minutes the pulsation became full and regular. It is pretty certain that tho heart may in certain cases continue to beat feebly without any sound being perceptible through the stethoscope, but generally speaking apparent cessation of cardiac movement for thirty minutes, as ascertained by repeated stethoscopio examinations, may be considered as absoluto proof of death. Stoppage of respiration is proved by various tests.

Absence of visible movements of chest and abdomen for a maximum period of five minutes provides proof of death.

Voluntary suspension varies, but three and a half minutes may be taken as the maximum.

There are some popular "tests.. bucJi as holding a mirror over the mouth to ascertain if any moisture from tho breath is condensed on the glass; suspending a feather over the mouth and nostrils to indicate any breathing by ita movement. Tihose are fairiy useful tests :f carefully carried out, but they are quite unnecessary in the case of medical men.

There is a prevailing idea with some members of tne public that premature burial occasionally takes place, but the instances have always proved to be nothing more than the delusions of superstitious or ignorant people plua a big degree of exaggeration. Cases have certainly' occurred in which persona in a condition of insensibility from concussion, coma, syncope, catalepsy, or exhaustion have been pronounced dead by the bystanders, simply because there was no outward signs of circulation or respiration, but the warmth of the body remains and the heart and lungs continue to act, though perhaps feebly. We are adequately protected by the medical certificate of death and its causes.

Of course no burial should be allowed to take place until after the lapse of twenty-four hours, and only then upon the certificate of a medical practioner who has examined the body.