Page:Medical jurisprudence (IA medicaljurisprud03pari).pdf/75

 tinged with bile, and of a yellowish colour; if extreme debility accompany the disease, it will often be of a chocolate colour, from the admixture of blood; should no disease exist in any of the viscera, it will resemble that of the serum of the blood. Previous to the removal of the viscera for more minute examination, it will be proper to observe their general situation and appearance, and to notice particularly whether the calibre of the visceral tube be natural, distended, or contracted; in some instances its diameter is sensibly diminished, as in cases of poisoning by lead. It sometimes occurs that the intestines are glued together with extravasated lymph; and, at others, that the abdominal viscera are more or less joined together by adhesions, which are the effects of former inflammation; these adhesions become gradually so elongated as to produce little or no inconvenience. If upon opening the cavity of the abdomen we should have reason to suspect the existence of any perforations in the stomach or bowels, the anatomist must proceed with great caution, so as not to enlarge their diameters, or alter their appearance. In the case of Miss Burns, the medical report lost much of its value, from the want of due precaution in this particular; see our account of the dissection, vol. ii, page 178. Should the contents of the stomach or intestines have escaped into the general cavity, we should be careful in collecting such matter, with a view to its future analysis. The size and appearance of the stomach must be noted, and we should observe whether any marks of inflammation, or gangrene, are visible on its external surface; in tracing the intestinal tube through its course, any appearance of inflammation, or phlogosis, should be attentively examined; for which purpose a ligature may be passed at some dis