It must be distinguished from ecchymosis the result of a bruise,
by making an incision into the part; in the case of hypostasis a few
small bloody points of divided arteries will be seen, in the case of
ecchymosis the subcutaneous tissues are infiltrated with blood-clot.
Internally, hypostasis must not be mistaken for congestion of the brain
or lungs, or the results of inflammation of the intestines. If the
intestine is pulled straight, inflammatory redness is continuous,
hypostasis is disconnected. About the neck hypostasis must not be
mistaken for the mark of a cord or other ligature. When the blood is of
a bright red colour after death (as happens in poisoning by CO or HCN,
or in death from cold), the hypostasis is bright red also.
=Cadaveric Rigidity--Rigor Mortis.=--For some time after death the
muscles continue to contract under stimuli. When this irritability
ceases--and it seldom exceeds two hours--rigidity and hardening sets in,
and in _all_ cases precedes putrefaction. It is caused by the
coagulation of the muscle plasma. It commences in the muscles of the
back of the neck and lower jaw, and then passes into the muscles of the
face, front of the neck, chest, upper extremities, and lastly to the
lower extremities.
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