Observations on the state of the vascular system after death by asphyxia and by cardiac failure / by J.A. Macwilliam.
- John Alexander MacWilliam
- Date:
- [1902]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Observations on the state of the vascular system after death by asphyxia and by cardiac failure / by J.A. Macwilliam. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![Reprinted from the British Mhdical Journal, April 5th, igo». OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF TIIE VASCULAR SYSTEM AFTER DEATH BY ASPHYXIA AND BY CARDIAC FAILURE.* By J. A. MACWILLTAM, M.D., Professor of Physiology in the University of Aberdeen. [From the Physiological Laboratory of the University of Aberdeen.] EI Asphyxia. The characteristic distribution of the blood in the heart and great vessels after death by asphyxia has been ascribed to various causes, and a glance at the textbooks now in use will show that different opinions are still held as to why, on ex- amination of the body some hours after death, the right side of the heart and the great veins opening into it are usually found to be largely distended with blood, while the left heart is empty or contains little blood. Among various causes that have been assigned there may be mentioned as the chief ones: (i) The greater distensibility of the right heart; (2) the influence of violent respiratory move- ments and muscular spasms in drawing and driving blood into the great veins and right heart; (3) an alleged strong contraction of the pulmonary arterioles opposing the discharge of blood from the right ventricle, and so leading to an accu- mulation of blood in the right heart and great veins and a state of comparative emptiness on the left side ; (4) the in- fluence of rigor mortis coming on in the left ventricle alter death. Before entering on a brief consideration of these causes, it is important to determine the actual condition of the heart at the moment of death. This is a subject on which there is still a certain amount of contradictory assertion, though there 18 really no room for doubt as to the facts. It is quite certain that when death occurs from asphyxia the whole heart stops distended with blood—both auricles and both ventricles. This is the case whether asphyxia has been caused by occluding the trachea during natural breathing (in an anaesthetized animal), and then opening the thorax and examining the heaTt when death lias occurred ; or whether the thorax has first been opened—artificial inflation of the lungs being per- *Rcad in the Section of Anatomy and Physiology at the Annual Meeting of Hie Hrilish Medical Association at Cheltenham.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21455855_0003.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
