THE PATIENT IS LIVING, AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED.
Account given by the patient and his friends.—How far their report deserves credit.—Whether there be any external injuries.—Previous state of the patient, with respect to bodily health and strength.—The age and occupation of the individual in question.—Season of the year.—Present symptoms of the patient; with the circumstances of their accession, progress, intensity, and duration.—Whether any similar attack has been experienced by himself at any previous period, or by any part of his family and friends at the present time; and whether the latter have felt any degree of nausea or uneasiness.—What remedies have been employed, by whom recommended, and by whom administered.—Nature of the food last taken as to quantity and quality.—Whether the patient had observed any unusual flavour, or grittiness in his food.—Condition and nature of the utensils in which it was cooked.—Appearance of the evacuations.
THE PATIENT IS DEAD.—THE ATTENDANTS CAN FURNISH ONLY AN IMPERFECT ACCOUNT OF HIS DISSOLUTION.
Examination of the attendants.—Circumstances to be investigated.—How soon the deceased is supposed to have died, after the alleged cause of his dissolution.—Had the deceased been under the influence of violent passion.—Was he at the time of death in a state of intoxication.—Plan of the inquiry to be adopted according to the principles already explained in Case I, in combination with those to be developed in the following still more complicated one.
THE BODY IS FOUND DEAD.—ITS HISTORY IS UNKNOWN.
Plan to be adopted in the investigation of this case.—Four great avenues of inquiry, viz. 1. Inspection of the dead body; 2. Examination of surrounding and collateral objects; 3. Interrogation of witnesses; 4. Anatomical Dissection.
1. Inspection of the dead Body.