ASPHYXY, med. jur. A temporary suspension of the motion of the heart andarteries; swooning, fainting. This term includes persons who have beenasphyxiated by submersion or drowning; by breathing mephitic gas; by theeffect of lightning; by the effect of cold; by heat; by suspension orstrangulation. In a legal point of view it is always proper to ascertainwhether the person who has thus been deprived of his senses is the victimof another, whether the injury has been caused by accident, or whether itis. the act of the sufferer himself.
2. In a medical point of view it is important to ascertain whether theperson is merely asphyxiated, or whether he is dead. The following generalremarks have been made as to the efforts which ought to be made to restore aperson thus situated,
1st. Persons asphyxiated are frequently in a state of only apparentdeath.
2d. Real from apparent death, can be distinguished only byputrefaction.
3d. Till putrefaction commences, aid ought to be rendered to personsasphyxiated.
4th. Experience proves that remaining several hours under water doesnot always produce death.
5th. The red, violet, or black color of the face, the coldness of thebody, the stiffness of the limbs, are not always signs of death.
6th. The assistance to persons thus situated, maybe administered by anyintelligent person; but to insure success, it must be done withoutdiscouragement for several hours together.
7th. All unnecessary persons should be sent away; five or six are ingeneral sufficient.
8th. The place where the operation is performed should not be too warm.
9th. The assistance should be rendered with activity, but withoutprecipitation.