Observations on the condition of the body after death from cholera / By Wm. Frederick Barlow.

Barlow, W. F. (William Frederick), 1817-1853

Date:: 1850

Credit: Observations on the condition of the body after death from cholera / By Wm. Frederick Barlow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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$diu-a mator of tlio cord: it was conse quent upon fracture of two of the cer- -vical vertebrfB. At a time when the temi)erature of the inner surface of the lip was 97°, and that of tlie axilla was the same, the thermometer rose to 100° on my placing its bulb between two of the lingers or toes. Probably the state of the skin as to perspiration differ- ing in the unparalysed and paralysed parts, may explain some cases of dis- parity of heat. As is known well enough, there is no uniformity as to the matter of temperature in cases of affec- tion of the superior portion of the cord. CruveiUiier has given a most interest- ing example of spontaneous displace- ment of the atlas, which gave rise to comi^ression of the cord and hemi- plegia.* Coldness of the skin, and the feel of shivering, were prominent amongst the symptoms. CruveUhier says that the constancy of the coldness afforded him always fresh admiration, and even goes so far as to declai-e tliat it was so manifest and remarkable dur ing the com-se of the malady as to lend 6ui)port to the opinions of those physio- gists who consider the spinal marrow as the main som-ce of animal heat.. Of animal heat we have yet much to learn. Viewing it, to S2)eak generally, as proportionate, ceteris paribus, to the fulness, fi-eedom, and swiftness of the circulation, and the corresponding energy of the respu-atory process, we are but ill prepai-ed to find the high, the extremely high amount of it which has been noted in the dead. In what cases the heat absolutely rises after death, and in what also it rises most, remains to be ascertained. How can we talk of what we have not examined ? Accord- ing to Dr. Dowler, the rise in question is not peculiar to cholera : and it is cer- tainly re(iuired that the more important facts which touch upon the tem])eratiue of the dead in general shoidd be more generally and completely canvassed, for they havemostinterestingrelations to the signs of death, whilst some of them may at some future time give birth to medico- legal inquiries, the difficulties whereof, increased alike by rumour andcreduUty, will alone be solved, if solved at all, by the indispensable, and but too frequently un dervalued evidence of medical witnesses. The long delay of rigor mortis in tlie case wliicli occun-cd at Bristol was * Anatomic Patbolog:ique. certauily a very remarkable feature of it. Was it attributable, in any measure, to the warmtJ) of the body being pre-' served so long ? We must not be too ready to violently force simultaneous circumstances into the imaginary re- lation of cause and eflect; and so com- mit an eiTor wliich has led so often and obviously, elsewhere, to the spread of false knowledge and the discouragement of true. It happens frequently that rigor mortis lingers until the body cools; but it does not invaiiably hap- pen. I have seen, as many others have done before, anunals become rigid, perfectly rigid, wlulst wai-mth remain- ed. But there is an observation which would of itself suffice to prevent any one attiibutiug the defen-ed rigidity, in the case in question, to the tardy cooling of the corpse. M. OlUvier (as Dr. Taylor has reminded us in his lectures on the signs of death), has found some bodies dead fi-om cholera, at once very warm and perfectly rigid. More cases might be cited without ti-ouble 01- research ; but, as they are furnished not by cholera, they would, though perfectly applicable, seem less strildngly iu point. It is veiy easy to conceive long retention of warmth, long maintenance of irritabdity, long retardation of rigor mortis, and long resistance to the changes whereupon putrefaction depends, occm-iing toge- ther J and this would seem to have been exemplified in the instance which was observed at Bristol. There appears to be a mai-ked disiini- formity as to the time at which rigor mortis sets in after dissolution by cholera,—a cu-cumstauce to be in part, if not altogether, explained, by the fact, that death siuprises in tliis disease at a time when the muscular fibre is most cMereutly situated as to its amount of irritabiliy. It is kuo\vn well enough that the phenomenon of rigidity is generally postponed until tlie contract! bUity of the fibre is either entirely or almost exhausted. And there is certainly no more cai-dinal featiue of tliis form of muscular contraction, for T cannot but regard it as such, tlian the fact that, though its power and duration is as a ride proportionate to the amount of irritability at the time of death, its occurrence should be hindered until tliat projiorty bo completely or all but abolished. When we consider that cholera at-$

Observations on the condition of the body after death from cholera / By Wm. Frederick Barlow.

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