The edges of these wounds are never smooth, and generally do not correspond at all with the weapon. A considerable amount of contusion or bruising surrounds the solution of continuity of the part. Hæmorrhage from these wounds is usually slight. A point of considerable interest may arise in connection with this class of wounds; the defence may declare that the injury was the result of a fall, and not due to a blow. The history of the case, and the presence of a bruise where no theory of a fall can explain its existence, will often afford the only solution of the difficulty. Lacerated wounds heal by suppuration, generally with more or less sloughing, and leave a permanent scar. Scratches with the finger-nails may be considered as lacerated wounds, but the skin is merely abraded, not divided. They are never important as wounds, but often as a proof of a struggle in cases of rape, &e. Bites are also lacerated wounds. The diagnosis of lacerated and punctured wounds, whether inflicted before or after death, will depend on much the same grounds as those of incised wounds, hæmorrhage, vital reaction, &c. Table of Differentiation Between Ante-mortem and Post-mortem Wounds: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Incised Wounds. -----------------------------------+--------------------------------- IN THE LIVING. | IN THE DEAD. | 1. Edges sharply cut and everted, | 1. Edges close, and not everted. the skin and muscles being | retracted. | | 2. Bleeding copious, and generally | 2. Bleeding absent or scanty. arterial. | | 3. There are clots. | 3. There are no clots in most | cases; sometimes a few strial | clots. | 4. There is a good deal of staining| 4. There is little or no staining or diffusion of blood in the | or diffusion of blood in the muscular and connective tissues.| tissues of the wound. | 5. After some hours or days | 5. There will be no attempt at there will be signs of repair or| repair, and no signs of inflammation. | inflammation. There may be | signs of putrefaction. -----------------------------------+---------------------------------- Lacerated Wounds. -----------------------------------+---------------------------------- | 1. There will be more hæmorrhage | 1. There is hardly any hæmorrhage and staining from the blood at | or staining unless large veins