ligaments; but it must be remembered that such changes require some time for their completion, and in cases where the child has perished shortly after its birth, we do not believe that the alteration in structure will be sufficiently obvious to afford any information of practical application. The degree of importance which is to be attached to the arched state of the diaphragm has been already appreciated. The empty state of the urinary bladder and intestines has been alluded to by some authors, as affording a degree of presumptive evidence, since the evacuation of the urine from the former, and that of the meconium from the latter, are performed by most living children soon after birth. We are, however, inclined to attach but very little importance to such indications; and with regard to the meconium, every practitioner in midwifery knows well that it is frequently evacuated by the pressure of the maternal parts on the child during its passage through the pelvis; especially in breech presentations.
The stomach and intestines ought, in every case, to be considered as important objects of examination. It is possible that the trace of some aliment may be discovered, if so, no further proof can be required as to the child having lived. If any thing more than simple mucous fluid exist in the stomach, it should be examined by chemical tests. This remark, which we owe to Dr. Hutchinson, applies especially to the possibility of poison having been exhibited; and on this point the mucous membrane of the stomach will furnish useful evidence. If there should appear any fluid in this viscus, resembling water, it will be necessary to examine its nature, and to ascertain if any vegetable matters be present in it, such as portions of
