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If the corpse drowned while alive, males typically lie prone, and females typically lie supine. The head and face are facing upward, with both hands and feet extended forward. The mouth is closed, eyes may be open or closed indeterminate, and hands are clenched into fists. The abdomen is distended, producing a resonant sound when slapped. (If one fell into water, palms are open, eyes slightly open, abdomen slightly distended; if one threw oneself in, hands are tightly clenched, eyes closed, abdomen rapidly distends) The soles of the feet show wrinkled, whitish skin, without abdominal distension. Hair is tied tightly. Sand and mud are found at the hairline, between fingernails/toenails, or inside shoes if worn. Water foam and some pale bloody stains, or abrasions, are present in the mouth and nose; this is evidence of drowning while alive. (Generally, because the person struggles for life before dying, qi and blood flow, spasms draw water into the intestines, causing hands to naturally curl into fists, sand and mud to enter toe gaps, water foam to flow from mouth and nose, and abdomen to distend from ingested water)

If inspection is delayed, the corpse exposed to wind and sun will have blistered epidermis over the body, or develop white spots.

If there are no marks on the body and the complexion is red, this indicates death by being held upside down and submerged.

If the corpse has a slightly reddish complexion, mud-water foam in the mouth and nose, water in the stomach, and slight abdominal distension, it is indeed death by drowning.

If death occurred due to illness followed by drowning, depth of water does not matter for lethality, and there are no other abnormalities on the body.

If death occurred from illness and the body was then thrown into water, there is no foam in the mouth/nose, no water in the stomach, no distension, a sallow complexion, and emaciated muscles.

If death occurred from falling into a muddy ditch while ill, the corpse's mouth and eyes are open, hands slightly clenched, and clothes as well as mouth, nose, ears, and hairline are stained with blue-black mud. Clothes must be removed, washed with water, and sprayed with wine; flesh submerged in mud-water turns slightly white, abdomen slightly distends, and mud is found under nails.

If beaten to death and pushed into water, deep submersion causes distension, shallow submersion causes less distension. Flesh color is yellowish, not white; mouth and eyes open, hands spread, hair loose. Abdomen not distended, no fluid flowing from mouth/eyes/ears/nose, no sand/mud in finger/toe gaps, hands not clenched, soles not wrinkled but falsely swollen. If vital fatal injuries exist with black marks and emaciation, inspect carefully. If injuries are found, record them; even if thrown into water, relevant persons must be taken to court for investigation.

For suicides by jumping into wells, being pushed in, or accidental falls, corpses are largely similar with minor differences. All show abrasions on head/eyes from bricks/stones, sand/mud in nails/hair, abdominal distension, and water flowing from mouth when turned sideways or prone, with no other cause; classified as death by falling into well, distinguishing suicide vs. push lies within these details. Minor differences: being pushed or accidental fall results in open hands, slightly open eyes, possibly money/items on waist; suicide results in closed eyes, clenched hands, no items on body.

Generally, intentional jumping requires feet first; head-first suggests being chased/threatened or pushed by others. For accidental falls, check soil marks at the slip point.

Suicide by river or being pushed into river: if water is deep/broad, no abrasions/sand/mud occur; if shallow/narrow, similar to well incidents. Generally, 3-4 chi depth can drown; if no other cause, classify as drowning. Distinguish suicide vs. push based on context. If ropes or suspicious minor injuries exist, inspect for homicide by submersion. Set deadlines for arrest; do not delay due to concern for constables' limits, avoiding uncertainty.

For deaths in rivers/pools (flowing water = river, stagnant = pool), first ask the reporter: When was the body seen in water? Was it seen at that exact spot? Or did it drift? If drifting, ask direction (E/W/S/N), how it stopped there, and reporting timeline. If witnessed falling, ask if rescue was attempted. If rescued, did death occur before exiting water or after reaching shore? Immediate report or delayed?

In rivers/pools/lakes where boundaries are hard to measure, note floating position. If not floating, note recovery location. For ponds/traps capable of causing death, measure depth/dimensions; for traps, measure boundaries. Note management ownership and place names for riverbank/pool sites where bodies float or are found.

For well deaths, first ask reporter: How was presence known? Was person dead upon first sight? If alive, why no rescue? How known if body didn't float? For indoor wells, ask when last seen alive and how well suspicion arose. Presence of water foam in well confirms drowning.

Measure well boundaries and land ownership/place name. If body at bottom, estimate depth required for recovery rather than measuring directly.

Corpse fully gaseous in well floats >1 chi; shallow water prevents floating. If floated, measure head/foot orientation. If not floated, use pole to measure distance to body near edge, noting head/foot orientation.

For long-term submerged corpses, swelling obscures cause of death. Document: hair loss, head/eye swelling, everted lips, generalized cyanosis/blackening of skin/blood, desquamation. Confirm drowning in well/river after days of immersion. Without evidence of antemortem trauma or ability to identify age/features, rely only on foam in mouth/nose and abdominal distension to confirm drowning death. If excessive immersion precludes further verification, omit specific lethal cause documentation.

Early spring cold delays floating for days, differing from late spring/summer/autumn.

For servants/wives/daughters drowned, if beaten prior to entry leaving marks, and drowning is confirmed, document injuries clearly as "beaten then drowned."

For well suicides without struggle, if blade wounds appear on face/forehead with fresh blood-like appearance, check for broken porcelain in well causing injury. Fresh blood indicates recent wound while qi/breath remained; misclassifying as antemortem stab wound would be prejudicial.