, and
finally fluctuating. A hiccough commenced; coldness of the extremities
and lividity of the face followed, and continued three days before
death. On the 9th the incurvated posture was relinquished, and the
head sunk back upon the pillow; the respirations then diminished in
frequency, till they became only two in a minute; and at the end of
twenty-four hours they very gradually ceased.[4]

[Footnote 4: Governour Sullivan was born December 4th, 1744,
and died December 10th, 1809.]

DISSECTION, NINE HOURS AFTER DEATH.

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.

The whole body was much emaciated; the face pale and contracted. The
hands were slightly oedematous. Discolourations, answering to the
ribs, were observed on the thorax; many small purple spots, hard and
prominent, on the back; excoriations on the nates; and purple spots,
resembling incipient mortification, on the heel and toe.

THORAX.

The integuments of the thorax were free from fat: the cartilages of
the ribs ossified in various degrees, some perfectly, others slightly.
Upon laying open the cavity of the thorax, it was found to contain
about three pints of water, the proportion being greatest on the left
side.

The lungs were contracted into a smaller compass than usual, and were
very firm to the touch. Their colour anteriorly was whitish, with
small distinct purple spots; posteriorly, of a deep red, with similar
spots. The right lobe adhered closely to the pericardium; it also
adhered to the pleura costalis, by a great number of strong cords,
which seemed to be elongations of the original adhesions. Some of them
were nearly as hard as ligament, and many an inch in length.
Internally the lungs presented a very compact structure. Their cells
were crowded with mucus, and their vessels filled with black blood,
partly fluid, and partly coagulated. Some portions were firmer and
more condensed than others, but no tubercles were discovered.

The pericardium, viewed externally, appeared very large, and occupied
almost the whole space behind the opening formed by removing the
sternum and cartilages of the ribs. It was situated principally on the
left side, and contained about double the usual quantity of water; but
was principally filled by the enlarged heart, to which it adhered
anteriorly about two inches, near its base. Its parietes were, in
every part, very much thickened and hardened.