mbered that, owing to the interdependence of all the
vital functions, there is no line of demarcation between the various
modes of death. In all cases of sudden death think of angina pectoris
and the rupture of an aneurism.

The following is a list of some of the commoner causes of sudden death:

(a) =Instantaneously Sudden Death=--

1. Syncope (by far the commonest cause).

2. Aortic incompetence.

3. Rupture of heart.

4. Rupture of a valve.

5. Rupture of aortic aneurism.

6. Embolism of coronary artery.

7. Angina pectoris.

(b) =Less Sudden but Unexpected Death=--

1. Cerebral haemorrhage or embolism.

2. Mitral and tricuspid valvular lesions if the patient exerts himself.

3. Rupture of a gastric or duodenal ulcer; rupture of liver, spleen, or
extra-uterine gestation, or abdominal aneurism.

4. Suffocation during an epileptic fit; vomited matter or other material
drawn into the trachea or air-passages; croup.

5. Arterio-sclerosis may lead to thrombosis, embolism, or aneurism.

6. Poisoning, as by hydrocyanic acid, cyanide of potassium, inhalation
of carbonic acid or coal gas, oedema of glottis following inhalation of
ammonia.

7. Rapid onset of some acute specific disease, such as pneumonia or
diphtheria; collapse from cholera.

8. Heat-stroke, lightning, shocks of electricity of high tension.

9. Mental or physical shock.

10. Exertion while the stomach is overloaded.

11. Diabetic coma; uraemia.

12. _Status lymphaticus._ This is a general hyperplastic condition of
the lymphatic structures in the body, and is seen in enlargement of
tonsils, thymus, spleen, as well as of Peyer's patches and mesenteric
glands. It is a frequent cause of death during chloroform anaesthesia for
slight operations in young people.

In addition, it may be as well to remember that death sometimes occurs
suddenly in exophthalmic goitre, hypertrophy of the thymus, and in
Addison's disease.

In some cases of sudden death nothing has been found post mortem, even
when the autopsy has been made by skilled observers, and the brain and
cord have been submitted to microscopical examination.

VI.--SIGNS OF DEATH

(1) Cadaveric appearance; ashy white colour. (2) Cessation of the
circulation and respiration, no sound being heard by the stethoscope.
Cessation of the circulation may be determined by (a) placing a ligature
round the base of a finger (Magnus' test); (b) injecting a solution of
fluorescin (Icar