e death from cardiac
inhibition.

12. =Of the Liver.=--May divide the large vessels. Venous blood flows
profusely from a punctured wound of the liver. Wounds of the
gall-bladder cause effusion of bile and peritoneal inflammation.
Laceration of the liver may result from external violence without
leaving any outward sign of the injury; it is commonly fatal. There is
rapid and acute anaemia from the pouring out of blood into the abdominal
cavity. This may also occur with injuries of other organs in the
abdomen.

13. =Of the Spleen.=--Fatal haemorrhage may result from penetrating
wounds or from rupture due to kicks, blows, crushes, especially if the
spleen be enlarged.

14. =Of the Stomach.=--May be fatal from shock, from haemorrhage, from
extravasation of contents, or from inflammation. The danger is
materially lessened by prompt surgical intervention.

15. =Of the Intestines.=--May be fatal in the same way as those of the
stomach. More dangerous in the small than in the large intestines.

16. =Of the Kidneys.=--May prove fatal from haemorrhage, extravasation of
urine, or inflammation.

17. =Of the Bladder.=--Dangerous from extravasation of urine. In
fracture of the pelvis the bladder is often injured, and extraperitoneal
infiltration of urine occurs, with frequently a fatal issue.

18. =Of Genital Organs.=--Incised wounds of penis may produce fatal
haemorrhage. Removal of testicles may prove fatal from shock to nervous
system. Wounds of the spermatic cord may be dangerous from haemorrhage.
Wounds to the vulva are dangerous, owing to haemorrhage from the large
plexus of veins without valves.

XV.--DETECTION OF BLOOD-STAINS, ETC.

Stains may require detection on clothing, on cutting instruments, on
floors and furniture, etc. The following are the distinctive characters
of blood-stains:

(a) =Ocular Inspection.=--Blood-stains on dark-coloured materials, which
in daylight might be easily overlooked, may be readily detected by the
use of artificial light, as that of a candle, brought near the cloth.
Blood-spots when recent are of a bright red colour if arterial, of a
purple hue if venous, the latter becoming brighter on exposure to the
air. After a few hours blood-stains assume a reddish-brown or chocolate
tint, which they maintain for years. This change is due to the
conversion of haemoglobin into methaemoglobin, and finally into haematin.
The change of colour in warm weather usually occurs in less than