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shyscyberchamber.com
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THE ATTIC
:
Cause of Death - Proximate of Causes |
Date
Added
AUG 2002 |
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All deaths can be attributed to
one of three proximate causes which relate to the failure of one of the organs
essential to life: Coma (brain), syncope (heart) or asphyxia (lungs). |
 Coma |
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Arrest of the brain's functions is
principally caused by:
1. Compression of the brain resulting from a depressed fracture (homicidally,
most commonly the result of
bludgeoning.)
2. The effects of poisoning, wither suicidally, homicidally or accidentally
introduced into the body.
3. The effects of narcotic and hypnotic drugs usually self induced to the body
accidentally in the form of overdose or impurities in the substance.
4. Medical conditions such as cerebral haemorrhage, brain tumour and diseases,
the by-products of which may poison the bran and produce coma. |
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Syncope |
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1. 'Natural' heart failure is
associated with many degenerative diseases of the organ, often accelerated by
shock or powerful emotion.
2. Homicidal syncope's can be induced by certain poisons, or by extensive injury
caused to the heart. |
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Asphyxia |
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Anoxia meaning simply 'lack of
oxygen', is the principal cause of death and widely encountered in acts of
homicide. The condition results from several causes, of which the first, anoxic
anoxia, is usually known as asphyxia, or manual asphyxia. |
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Anoxic Anoxia (Asphyxia) |
1. Associated with breathing
an atmosphere with insufficient oxygen.
2. Obstruction of the oxygen supply by occlusion of the air passages.
3. Pressure on the chest or abdomen preventing breathing.
4. Paralysis of the respiratory function due to electric shock, the action of
some poisons (morphine, barbiturates), etc. |
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Anaemic Anoxia |
1. An insufficient supply of
oxygen in the tissues as the result of heavy loss of blood and obstruction of
the arteries; possible homicidal causes are extensive cut and stab wounds (i.e.;
bleeding to death).
2. Obstruction of the supply of oxygen to the blood, as in the case of carbon
monoxide poisoning. |
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Histotoxic Anoxia |
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Toxic materials paralyse the
body tissues preventing them from utilizing the oxygen released by the blood;
for example, cyanide. |
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Stagnant Anoxia |
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Where blood circulation is
stopped as the result of shock: heart failure or embolism. |
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Cause of Death : Specific Causes
of Death |
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It may be quite obvious to
the pathologist from the state of the body at a homicide scene what the most
likely cause of death was - the victim may, for example, still have a ligature
tied around their neck, or the skull may have been smashed with the bloody brick
lying close by. The wise medic, however, always waits until he has performed a
thorough post mortem examination before committing themselves to the precise
cause of death; to do otherwise could seriously mislead investigating officers
in the early stages of their inquiry. The most commonly encountered specific
causes of death are: |
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Bludgeoning
[
read more about bludgeoning ] |
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In which for convenience are included not only the typical 'blunt instruments',
but also other weapons which inflict impact injuries, (usually to the head)
resulting in death - a motor car, for example, and 'personal weapons' such as
feet and fists.
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Burning |
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Although death can result instantly from burning in the case of events such as
flash fires, the most common cause of death associated with fire is asphyxia
from smoke inhalation.
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Drowning [
read more about drowning ] |
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One of the categories of
asphyxia, caused by obstructing the respiratory channels with liquid.
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Embolism [
read more about embolism ] |
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Clogging of the blood vessels by bubbles of air (or more rarely by fat) which
causes an obstruction to the heart or to the brain where it blocks the blood
supply.
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Explosives |
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Proximity to
explosive blasts results in a variety of injuries connected with the effects of
the explosive itself - disintegration of the body, flash burns, effects of air
pressure; and others associated with the result of the blast - flying debris and
glass, collapsing buildings, etc
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Gunshot
Wounds |
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The result of shooting with all types of firearms. |
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Knife Wounds |
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Damage to the body tissue of an extent where physical functions are destroyed;
to which for convenience is added throat cutting. |
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Poison |
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Where extensive tissue damage combined with shock and paralysis destroy vital
functions of the body. |
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Strangulation [
read more about strangulation ] |
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Embracing the most common forms of asphyxia: |
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Manual Strangulation |
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Caused by direct pressure on the victim's trachea by the killer's hands, forearm
or feet. |
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Ligature Strangulation |
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Caused by constriction of the neck by direct application of pressure by means of
a rope, scarf, etc. pulled tightly by the killer. |
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Hanging
[
read more about hanging ]
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Caused by constriction of the neck by an indirect
application of pressure on the ligature by the weight of the body; more commonly
encountered as suicide than homicide. |
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Suffocation and Smothering |
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External stoppage of the nose and mouth preventing air being taken into the
lungs, resulting in asphyxia. |
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