Text-book of forensic medicine and toxicology

by R. J. M. Buchanan

Marks of the Cord, &c.—The mark of the cord is nearly always present. It varies with the breadth and hardness of the ligature, but is often interrupted. Its irregularities are reproduced on the skin. It is sometimes only seen on one side. In strangling, the mark is low down, most frequently encircling the neck; in hanging, the mark is generally above or on the thyroid cartilage, and carried obliquely upwards. The mark of the cord may be of a dirty yellowish-brown colour, and, when cut into, feels more or less hard and leathery. In general appearance it is not unlike the mark left by mustard-plasters or blisters applied within a short time of death. This effect is probably produced by the rubbing off of the epidermis, and subsequent drying up of the cutis on exposure to the air. At other times the mark may be of a dirty reddish or bright blue colour; or, lastly, there may be little or no mark present, or the edges may assume a livid red coloration, being nothing more or less than a post-mortem stain.

May the mark of the cord be produced after death?—On this point Casper says: “That any ligature with which any body may be suspended or strangled, not only within a few hours, but even days after death, especially if the body be forcibly pulled downwards, may produce a mark precisely similar to that which is observed in most of those hanged while alive.” And the same authority also adds that “the mark of the cord is a purely cadaveric phenomenon.”

Accidental hanging is rare, and generally happens with children while playing at hanging, or by accidentally becoming entangled in a window-blind cord or swing rope, or by the neck-band of an article of clothing by which they may become accidentally suspended from the spike of a railing.

Homicidal hanging is rare, but the body may be suspended after death from violence, to simulate suicide; and it may have to be decided whether the hanging took place during life or after death.

The mark of the cord is of no assistance, rents in the carotids with extravasation into the coats of the vessels indicate ante-mortem suspension. The flow of saliva down the chin to the body indicates suspension before death. It is important to examine the body for injuries which could not be self-inflicted, and to remember the possibility of poison having been administered with suspension after death.

Suicidal hanging is the most common, as it is a favourite mode of death with suicides. The absence of marks of injury on the body found suspended, and the want of evidence as to a previous struggle having taken place, all point to suicide. The fact that the feet are found in contact with the ground does not militate against the probability of suicidal hanging; and it appears that in India the natives seldom hang themselves from any height, and are most frequently found with their feet on the ground. A person may take poison first, and hang himself before the poison has had time to prove fatal.

STRANGLING

Death is due to pressure made on the neck by any form of ligature carried circularly round the neck, without suspension. The cord in hanging is, as a rule, placed more obliquely than in strangling.

The mode of death is the same as in hanging. The post-mortem appearances are similar to those of hanging, practically those of asphyxia. The mark on the neck is the principal feature. In position it is generally horizontal and situated below or on a level with the thyroid cartilage. It more completely encircles the neck. It may be interrupted in places if an irregular ligature has been used, causing irregular pressure. Its character depends largely upon the nature of the ligature. If the constriction has been uniform a continuous depression is produced which may be marked by ecchymosis. If the skin has been abraded, the line dries, and has a brownish, parchment-like appearance and feeling. If the ligature has been removed before life is quite extinct, the depressed line may disappear or be but slightly evident.

A soft, broad ligature may leave no mark on the neck, if not applied too tightly, or for too long a time. Should the victim have been strangled in the recumbent posture, and dragged upwards and backwards by the ligature, the mark will be on a slant as in hanging. According to the amount of violence used injuries may be caused to the deeper structures of the neck, such as effusion of blood into muscles, fractures of the thyroid or cricoid cartilage; rupture of the tympanum and epistaxis may take place.