(f) =Wounds.=—The embalmer should notice the situation, extent and the direction of a wound, the condition of the edges, and the surrounding tissues. If it be a deep, penetrating wound, its course and extent should be ascertained by careful dissection rather than by the use of a probe. If the edges of a wound be inflamed and suppurating, or beginning to heal, it must have been inflicted some time before death. In a wound inflicted a short time before death the edges are usually everted; there may be more or less extravasation of blood into the surrounding tissues, and the vessels contain coagulated blood; but sometimes none of these changes occur. The chief characteristics of a wound inflicted after death are absence of a considerable amount of bleeding, non-retraction of edges, and the absence of extravasation of blood into the tissues. But a wound inflicted within two hours after death may resemble very closely one received during life. In general, unless a wound is old enough for the edges to present inflammatory changes, the embalmer must be very careful in asserting its antemortem or postmortem character. (g) =Fractures.=—It may be important to determine whether a bone was fractured before or after death. This point can not always be decided. Fractures inflicted during life are, as a rule, attended with more extravasation of blood and evidences of reaction in the surrounding tissues; but fractures produced within a few hours after death may resemble these very closely. Usually a greater degree of force is necessary to fracture bones in the dead than in the living body. (h) =Scars and Tattoo Marks.=—The presence and character of these should be noted. Scars produced by any considerable loss of substance may become very much smaller and less conspicuous, but never entirely disappear. Slight and superficial wounds, however, leave marks which may not be permanent. The discoloration produced by tattooing may, although it rarely does, disappear during life. The embalmer should not try to remove it. CHAPTER XIV. DISCOLORATIONS.—Continued. =Discolorations Occurring After death.=—Those discolorations occurring after death would be as follows: (a) Desiccation. (b) Greenish tinge of putrefaction. (c) Chemical action. (d) Postmortem discoloration. (e) Postmortem staining. (f) Capillary or venous congestion. =Desiccation.=—This is a brownish color caused by the drying of the skin. Various conditions might cause this color of which a few are considered here: Natural evaporation, the drying action of formaldehyde, freezing the skin, feverish conditions of the body before death, absence of a normal amount of moisture in the skin of the dead body.