Fig. 1.—Direction of the Long Axis of Wounds of the Back caused by Conical Instruments.
(After Langer.)
The wounds above described when large are smaller than the weapon, as the splitting of the skin has certain limits and also owing to the elasticity of the skin, which is put on the stretch by the weapon and relaxed on its withdrawal. When such wounds are small they are larger as a rule than the instrument causing them.
Fig. 2.—Slit-like Wound caused by a Pointed Conical Instrument 2.5 cm. in Diameter. Natural size.
Fig 3.—Wounds of Stomach Wall by a Conical Instrument, showing the Different Direction of the Long Axis of the Wounds in Different Layers.
Fig. 4.—Stab-Wound of the Skin with a Knife a Few Minutes before Death.
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