Description
This consists of the greater part of the stomach and shows, on the posterior surface, on the lesser
curvature immediately below the cardia, a vertical tear in the mucos, some 3 cm long. The tear
extends to the main muscle mass, and the floor of the tear is bloodstained. There is no other lesion
apparent.
History
This man was last seen alive, after returning from a fishing trip, at midnight on 26
February 1977; at that time he complained of severe stomach pains and was later found dead in
bed. At autopsy his coronary arteries showed gross atheroma, with pinpoint narrowing of the
descending branch of the left coronary artery, and with microscopic evidence of ischaemic scarring
in his heart muscle. There were petechiae on the arch of the aorta, and a small bruise at the entrace
of the inferior vena cava; the combined weight of his lungs was 1650g, which showed gross
oedema in the upper lobes. Death was attributed to coronary artery disease. In addition, he showed
a bruise 1 inch in diameter over the mid-point of the sternum and the sternum beneath it was broken.
He showed bruises approximately 1 x 1.5 inches in both intercostal spaces between the 5th and 6th
ribs, and fractures of the 2nd and 3rd ribs on the right, and of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ribs on the left
in the anterior axillary line. In addition, he showed this lesion of the stomach, and these injuries
are attributed to attempted resuscitation.