as a rule, along the sides of the neck, the opposition of the larynx and similar structures often preventing it cutting in so deeply anteriorly. It is usually less marked in fat persons than in those that are moderately spare. The weight of the body and the length of time of suspension, as well as the size and nature of the ligature, are important factors in determining the depth of the depression. If the loop has been a double one, the mark is also double, one portion having a horizontal and the other an oblique direction if the inner part of the noose be free to slip. Both lines will be oblique, however, if both strands are attached at the knot. In the former case the horizontal mark will be found to extend completely around the neck, as in case of throttling by ligature. As may be expected, the narrower the cord, the deeper the furrow of depression. As a rule, this furrow is pale at the bottom, and the margins are swollen and discolored.

When considerable force has been expended, as in hanging with a fall, suggillations along the bottom of the groove are often found; but these are not present, for the entire number of deaths by hanging, in as great proportion as in death by throttling. Instead of pallor along the bottom of the depressed line, if the suspension has been brief and little excess of force employed, the surface may look normal or slightly red in color. If there has been much excoriation by the ligature and the suspension has lasted for several hours, the skin in the bottom of the groove may have a yellowish-brown tint and a hard, dry appearancethe so-called "parchment-skin." Even if not noted upon releasing the body from suspension, this last is likely to develop within a few hours after exposure of the groove to the air. The cyanotic appearance of the upper margin of the groove is almost invariable, usually appearing even if the body has been suspended shortly after death from some other cause. The cyanosis of the lower margin is usually less marked, and may be absent. Its presence is a fair indication that hanging was performed antemortem. Ecchymoses along the margin of the furrow are more common above the line of the ligature than below, but, except in cases of hanging with drop, are less frequent than in throttling. It is to be remembered that the appearance of this line of depression is a relative one, and that, in its appreciation, the length of fall and consequent violence, the weight of the suspended body, the duration of suspension, and the width and nature of the ligature must all be considered. Many cases, especially of suicidal hanging, fail to exhibit it at all; and, on the other hand, it may in a measure be produced by suspending the body within one or two hours after death.

When the body has been almost or completely suspended, the neck is distinctly elongated and pliable. This is not necessarily due to any vertebral fracture, but may result from the stretching of the intervertebral tissues.

Subject to variation, as already considered, the other external appearances are likely to be found as follows: the face is swollen, cyanosed, and blotched; the eyes are prominent and sometimes the seat of subconjunctival hemorrhage; the tongue is swollen and partially protrud

SUICIDE BY HANGING WITH A DOUBLE ROPE (HOFMANN).

The face is especially cyanotic, and shows numerous punctiform ecchymoses of the skin of the eyelids and surround-
ing parts, and also minute isolated ecchymoses in the skin of the remainder of the face. Larger ecchymoses, nearly the size
of a hempseed, are also present in the markedly injected conjunctivæ and in the mucous membrane of the lips.

The groove made by the rope is situated asymmetrically. Encircling the right side of the neck, both extremities of it
ascend behind the angle of the left inferior maxilla, forming an incomplete angle, open below. As a consequence, the head
is inclined somewhat to the right and the groove is more marked to the right-the extremities of it becoming less marked as
they ascend.

The groove is a double one, and consists of two furrows with parallel edges joining to form one. The furrows are sepa-
rated from each other by a narrow band of skin. The base of the furrows is pale, and reveals indentations of the twists of
the rope. The edges of the furrows, as also the intervening portion of the skin, are very red, and reveal a marked and
almost uniform injection of the cutaneous vessels, and in addition numerous minute ecchymoses.

These lesions, which are explained by the constriction of, and by the embarrassment of the circulation in, the affected
portion of the skin, when as marked as in the present case, possess a diagnostic importance in so far as they indicate that the
suspension occurred during life. The correctness of this assumption is enhanced by the fact that there are present no signs
which would warrant the supposition that a hypostatic hyperemia was present before the adjustment of the rope, nor the
possible view that the marked cyanosis and ecchymoses of the face and neck occurred before the suspension as a result of
death from another mode of suffocation.

The reason that in the present case so marked a cyanosis developed, whereas in persons judicially hanged the face
usually shows the ordinary death-pallor, is found in the asymmetric situation of the noose. As a result of this, in contra-
distinction to cases in which the rope is placed typically and in which all the vessels of the anterior part of the neck are com-
pressed, in the present case only those of the right side of the neck were obstructed-a circumstance which naturally led
to marked congestion.

SUICIDE BY HANGING WITH A DOUBLE ROPE (HOFMANN).

Larger ecchymoses, nearly the size The face is especially cyanotic, and shows numerous punctiform ecchymoses of the skin of the eyelids and surrounding parts, and also minute isolated ecchymoses in the skin of the remainder of the face.

of a hempseed, are also present in the markedly injected conjunctivæ and in the mucous membrane of the lips.

As a consequence, the head
The groove made by the rope is situated asymmetrically. Encircling the right side of the neck, both extremities of it
ascend behind the angle of the left inferior maxilla, forming an incomplete angle, open below.
is inclined somewhat to the right and the groove is more marked to the right-the extremities of it becoming less marked as
they ascend.

The groove is a double one, and consists of two furrows with parallel edges joining to form one. The furrows are sepa-
rated from each other by a narrow band of skin. The base of the furrows is pale, and reveals indentations of the twists of
the rope. The edges of the furrows, as also the intervening portion of the skin, are very red, and reveal a marked and
almost uniform injection of the cutaneous vessels, and in addition numerous minute ecchymoses.

These lesions, which are explained by the constriction of, and by the embarrassment of the circulation in, the affected
portion of the skin, when as marked as in the present case, possess a diagnostic importance in so far as they indicate that the
suspension occurred during life. The correctness of this assumption is enhanced by the fact that there are present no signs
which would warrant the supposition that a hypostatic hyperemia was present before the adjustment of the rope, nor the
possible view that the marked cyanosis and ecchymoses of the face and neck occurred before the suspension as a result of
death from another mode of suffocation.

The reason that in the present case so marked a cyanosis developed, whereas in persons judicially hanged the face
usually shows the ordinary death-pallor, is found in the asymmetric situation of the noose. As a result of this, in contra-
distinction to cases in which the rope is placed typically and in which all the vessels of the anterior part of the neck are com-
pressed, in the present case only those of the right side of the neck were obstructed-a circumstance which naturally led
to marked congestion.