Text-book of forensic medicine and toxicologyBuchanan, R. J. M. (Robert James McLean)
Science
Text-book of forensic medicine and toxicology
Buchanan, R. J. M. (Robert James McLean)
Medical jurisprudence; Poisons
In a case examined by me of combined strangling and throttling, marks
of the ligature and fingers were both present, and on the clavicles
separate marks produced by the knuckles while tying the cord. These
knuckle marks did not show up till some time after death. Effusions
of blood were present in the tissues of the neck on each side of the
larynx, and amongst the muscles on both sides, and in the sheath of the
left carotid artery.
The hyoid bone was fractured in two places in its left half. The
thyroid cartilage was fractured vertically on each side of the middle
line into three pieces, the central portion having fallen behind the
other two into the cavity of the larynx. The right wing of the thyroid
was comminuted. The cornua were fractured. The cricoid cartilage was
also fractured posteriorly, and into three pieces in front. Effusions
of blood in the fractured areas had formed beneath the mucous membrane.
Effusion of blood was present on the front wall of the pharynx and the
upper part of the œsophagus. The right carotid artery was atheromatous,
and linear and star-shaped fissures were present, the latter surrounded
by a ring of sub-intimal effusion of blood.
On the right side of the thorax the fifth rib was fractured at the
junction with its cartilage, and on the left side the second, third,
fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs were fractured close to their cartilages,
and again from three to five inches further back. Blood effusions in
the tissues of the chest wall and under the pleuræ were present in the
region of the fractures.
A handkerchief was found tight on the neck and tied with two knots
both fastened securely. It was probable that the handkerchief had been
tied on after the throttling, as the knot ends were too short to allow
a sufficient pull on them to cause the injuries. Throttling may be
regarded as a homicidal act; although one or two instances of suicidal
throttling have been recorded in the insane.
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