典藏书目

In cases of suicide by cutting the throat, the corpse's mouth and eyes are closed, hands clenched into fists, arms bent and retracted. (The deceased held the weapon firmly with their hand; when exerting force, the hand naturally forms a fist.) The skin color is yellowish, and the hair bun is tight.

If a small knife is used for self-cutting, the wound length is only 1.5 to 2 cun; if a kitchen knife is used, it is 3 to 4 cun long; if porcelain shards are used, the cut is not very long. For self-inflicted cuts with various sharp instruments, the blade enters from one sharp end, and death occurs immediately once the trachea is severed.

If vital areas such as the lower throat, precordium, upper abdomen, bilateral costal regions, temporal region, or Baihui (DU-20) point on the vertex are slashed with a sharp object, death occurs instantly even with minor damage to the fascia; however, if the cut is shallow and not in a vital area, multiple wounds may not be fatal.

When using the left hand, the cut must start behind the right ear and pass over the throat for 1–2 cun; when using the right hand, it must start behind the left ear. Injury above the laryngeal cartilage is difficult to be fatal because the cartilage is hard; injury below the laryngeal cartilage is easily fatal because the area below is hollow and prone to fracture. The mark shows heavy pressure at the start and light pressure at the end. (For example, if the left hand holds the blade, the entry point on the right side of the throat is deep, while the withdrawal point on the left side is shallow, with the middle section less deep than the right. This is because the initial cut was too forceful, and pain caused gradual retraction of the hand, resulting in a shallower cut, and the left hand mimics holding an object. The same applies to the right hand.)

Suicide by throat cutting typically leaves a single incision. If death is instantaneous, the wound is 1.7 cun deep, severing both the esophagus and trachea; if death occurs within one day, the wound is 1.5 cun deep, severing the esophagus and slightly damaging the trachea; if death occurs three to five days later, the wound is 1.3 cun deep, severing the esophagus. In these delayed cases, the hair and sideburns appear disheveled.

Observe whether the face appears sorrowful with furrowed brows, which indicates self-infliction. (This is not definitive.)

If the fingers are chopped off with a knife, the skin edges are neat, indicating bandaging with medicinal substances. Although injured by a sharp object, death would not be instantaneous; rather, it results from improper care. The wound edges curl inward; if injured after death, the skin does not curl inward, serving as evidence.

Some individuals bite off their own fingers. Infection from oral bacteria entering the wound often leads to death, with few survivors. The bitten area presents as a single ulcer, with surrounding fractured bones immersed in pus, leading to tissue necrosis. Death results from improper care. The marks show dental impressions and irregular skin/blood edges.

To examine a suicide victim, first inquire of the reporting official: What was the social status of the deceased? Was the act committed early or late? What weapon was used? If someone comes to identify the body, ask: How old was the deceased? Did they favor the left or right hand? If the deceased was a servant, inspect the contract document first, and ask: Are there any relatives? Also determine if the deceased favored the left or right hand. Carefully examine the location of the wounds.

Furthermore, verify that antemortem wounds exhibit blood flow, whereas postmortem injuries do not.