and on top the small absorbent gloves used to soak up blood. Full face mask with eye goggles.
Peters was dressed in a similar manner as was Fred the dead the mortuary porter and assistant.
It was Fred who handed Pearson his kit, he left the room, changed and returned.
Jock Peters leaned over and asked, “Done any of these before?” Pearson shook his head in the negative.
This caused Peters to reflect in the old days when he first joined the police it had been part of the training as a police officer during his probationary period to witness and in fact assist the pathologist in doing post-mortems.
In those days the officer wore no protective clothing, simply took off his tunic, placing it on the side, rolled up the blue shirt sleeves and stood by the post-mortem table.
The pathologist then inserted a scalpel into the chest cavity, making an incision right down the centre of the body from the neck to the private parts.
This done the skin was folded back exposing the rib cage.
An electric saw was obtained and each rib was cut through.
This done the entire rib cage was removed exposing the internal organs.
The assistant placed a small table upon the operating table and opened the deceased legs inserting the table between them.
In turn each of the organs was removed and sliced up for examination.
The pathologist then dictating his or her report into a dictating machine.
When each organ was finished with it was placed into a dish, this was handed to the police officer who weighed it and recorded the weight on a form provided.
When all the organs had been done they were unceremoniously tipped back into the body cavity.
It was next the turn of the head. The skin cut at the back of the neck and pulled over so that the face of the deceased was loose almost like a mask. The top of the head was cut round with the electric saw and the brain removed being sliced and weighed as the other organs. This was not replaced in the head but placed in the body cavity.
A small organ at the rear of the neck was kept by the pathologist. It was in those far off days sent and made into some growth drug.
When all the organs had been weighed and placed inside the body cavity, any old clothing of the deceased was placed inside to bring the body back into shape. Finally the long incision was sown up with a cross stitch.
The smell was not very pleasant and much worse in the cases of bodies which were decomposing.
In those cases those present were given strong smelling ointment to rub onto the end of the nose. An incense candle often burnt to hide the horrific odour.
Peters recalled how there had been surprises such as at a drowning post-mortem when an eel had once wriggled out of the stomach or in another case a rat.
The operation over, the officer was given the task of washing up the pathologist’s tools.
As a reward the officer was given five shillings or twenty five pence as tip.
He whispered to Pearson, the only time he had known such a gratuity was permitted by the police.
Having been so explicitly informed Pearson stood by, would he stand the smell or sight of such an ordeal, time would tell.
About to commence Professor Hallam said.”Inspector, I have called you here today to tell I believe that this death was not in fact suicide”.
Pearson looked with mouth a gape.
She continued, “Here, see the ankle, there is a large bruise now showing. This is a clear indication that this man, when upon the chair, someone kicked but missed the chair and struck the ankle.
“The second point, come over and see?”
Pearson walked over and she picked up the piece of rope.
“Look at the knot. When found the knot was at the rear of the neck but it had not slipped down tight.”
“I am of the opinion that the deceased was smothered in his sleep, tests will confirm this or not”.
“The indications are that having been smothered in his sleep, someone then put the rope around his neck then put the rope over the beam and lifted and
Peters was dressed in a similar manner as was Fred the dead the mortuary porter and assistant.
It was Fred who handed Pearson his kit, he left the room, changed and returned.
Jock Peters leaned over and asked, “Done any of these before?” Pearson shook his head in the negative.
This caused Peters to reflect in the old days when he first joined the police it had been part of the training as a police officer during his probationary period to witness and in fact assist the pathologist in doing post-mortems.
In those days the officer wore no protective clothing, simply took off his tunic, placing it on the side, rolled up the blue shirt sleeves and stood by the post-mortem table.
The pathologist then inserted a scalpel into the chest cavity, making an incision right down the centre of the body from the neck to the private parts.
This done the skin was folded back exposing the rib cage.
An electric saw was obtained and each rib was cut through.
This done the entire rib cage was removed exposing the internal organs.
The assistant placed a small table upon the operating table and opened the deceased legs inserting the table between them.
In turn each of the organs was removed and sliced up for examination.
The pathologist then dictating his or her report into a dictating machine.
When each organ was finished with it was placed into a dish, this was handed to the police officer who weighed it and recorded the weight on a form provided.
When all the organs had been done they were unceremoniously tipped back into the body cavity.
It was next the turn of the head. The skin cut at the back of the neck and pulled over so that the face of the deceased was loose almost like a mask. The top of the head was cut round with the electric saw and the brain removed being sliced and weighed as the other organs. This was not replaced in the head but placed in the body cavity.
A small organ at the rear of the neck was kept by the pathologist. It was in those far off days sent and made into some growth drug.
When all the organs had been weighed and placed inside the body cavity, any old clothing of the deceased was placed inside to bring the body back into shape. Finally the long incision was sown up with a cross stitch.
The smell was not very pleasant and much worse in the cases of bodies which were decomposing.
In those cases those present were given strong smelling ointment to rub onto the end of the nose. An incense candle often burnt to hide the horrific odour.
Peters recalled how there had been surprises such as at a drowning post-mortem when an eel had once wriggled out of the stomach or in another case a rat.
The operation over, the officer was given the task of washing up the pathologist’s tools.
As a reward the officer was given five shillings or twenty five pence as tip.
He whispered to Pearson, the only time he had known such a gratuity was permitted by the police.
Having been so explicitly informed Pearson stood by, would he stand the smell or sight of such an ordeal, time would tell.
About to commence Professor Hallam said.”Inspector, I have called you here today to tell I believe that this death was not in fact suicide”.
Pearson looked with mouth a gape.
She continued, “Here, see the ankle, there is a large bruise now showing. This is a clear indication that this man, when upon the chair, someone kicked but missed the chair and struck the ankle.
“The second point, come over and see?”
Pearson walked over and she picked up the piece of rope.
“Look at the knot. When found the knot was at the rear of the neck but it had not slipped down tight.”
“I am of the opinion that the deceased was smothered in his sleep, tests will confirm this or not”.
“The indications are that having been smothered in his sleep, someone then put the rope around his neck then put the rope over the beam and lifted and
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