THE "CORPSE" SAT UP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 453, 11 March 1909, Page 5

THE "CORPSE" SAT UP.

SUSPENDED ANIMATION, (ni TELECitAru—muss association—corrntcnT.) Molbourno, March 10. A caso of suspended animation occurred at Ararat. A man named Steel: apparently died on Monday, and whilo tho body was being prepared for interment, it is alleged tho "corpse" sat up aud called for two boiled (eggs. THE RISK OF PREMATURE BURIAL. "Cases of premature burial aro by no means so rare as is commonly supposed." Such is tho sober warning of Dr. J. Brindley James, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., in his booklet entitled "Death and its Verification." Dr. Brindley James gives thirteen tests for establishing the faot that death has taken place, and even then lie recommends one other test — the beginning of actual decomposition—even should the other thirteen show that life is extinct. These thirteen tests include electricity, hot sealing-wax to form a blister, the injection of ammonia, the injection of fluorescin (which turns the skin a deep yellow and the eyes a vivid emerald green if life be still present), and X-raying the heart, which gives a clearly defined shadow only when it is motionless. The cessation of breathing and the stoppage of the heart, Dr. James says, ni.e not to be entirely relied upon. He mentions several eases in support of this, contention, especially in connection with drowning cases.