to state here that ulcerations have been found in the stomach and intestines more or less accompanied with a collection of dark brown or black bloody fluid, which have given rise to suspicions of poisoning in infants to all outward appearances quite healthy. An infant may be thrown into water and drowned. No traces of this mode of death would be discoverable in the infant unless respiration had taken place prior to its immersion. The plea of accidental drowning in a cesspool or water-closet pan may be put forward; it is therefore well to examine the cord. Has a ligature been placed upon it? Has it been cut by a sharp instrument? The nature and character of the fluid found in the stomach should be noted. Fractures of the skull may happen-- 1. _In the Womb._--The parturient female may fall from a considerable height, and thus cause injury to her child. These cases are of no judicial importance, as the presence of intra-uterine putrefaction or an examination of the lungs will at once show that the child has not breathed. It must be borne in mind, however, that dislocations may take place in the womb, and this fact may be brought forward in defence. The history of the case, and the absence of any other signs of violence, will decide the truth or falsity of the plea. 2. _During Labour._--Fracture of the cranial bones during labour generally occurs in difficult and protracted labours, which, from this very cause, seldom become the subject of judicial inquiry. In some cases the defective ossification of the bones of the skull may give rise to fractures, which may lead to dangerous mistakes. This deficiency, in the process of ossification is thus described by Casper: “If the bone in question is held up to the light, this is seen to shine through the opening, which is closed only by the pericranium. When the periosteal membrane is removed, the deficiency in the ossification is seen in the form of a round or irregularly circular opening, not often more than three lines in diameter, though frequently less; its edges are irregular and serrated: these edges are _never depressed, as is the case in fractures_; and neither they nor the parts in their neighbourhood are ever observed to be ecchymosed.” The child in these cases may breathe for a short time, and then die without any apparent cause. [Illustration: Fig. 26.--Photo-micrograph of human milk, × 250. (R. J. M. Buchanan.)] 3. _By Falls._--It is beyond doubt possible for a child to be born so precipitately as to fall on the floor and be severely injured, and that even fatally. In cases of alleged precipitate birth, to account for injuries found on the child, the following points should be remembered, and will assist in forming a diagnosis: 1. In Favour of Precipitate Birth and Accidental Injury