[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner":3,"chapter-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-173":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Nation's Forensic Medical Examiner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2326868,4551,"Chapter 173: Cause of Death","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-173",173,"\u003Cp>The cause of death is a profoundly serious matter for forensic pathologists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forensic pathology, the entire book, is about this very thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court also places extreme importance on the cause of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take today’s case: if death resulted from arson—that is, the victim died due to arson—but the arson was not targeted at the victim, it could lead to a life sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the killer set fire after murder, that constitutes an aggravating circumstance, and it’s almost certainly a death sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, if the victim was accidentally killed in the fire, or murdered first and then the body was burned by someone else, it might revert to a life sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dong’s expression grew grave as he took the lead in the autopsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Burning a body after murder is relatively common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killers often employ various methods to destroy evidence and conceal the crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the abdomen was stabbed so many times, yet the lungs showed crepitus…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are two entirely different causes of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crepitus in the lungs—or a snow-grip sensation—typically indicates asphyxia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dong decisively cut a piece of lung tissue; pink, frothy fluid oozed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This further confirmed that death was very likely related to asphyxia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, did the victim suffer abdominal stab wounds, lose consciousness, then die from smoke inhalation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dong’s gaze instinctively turned to the victim’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is well known that bodies killed by smoke inhalation have three characteristics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the airway and mouth may be burned by high-temperature smoke. Second, the eyes are usually closed. Third, carboxyhemoglobin saturation is elevated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first point is easy to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second is also straightforward: smoke is highly irritating; at lethal levels, one would inevitably close their eyes while exposed to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third point—elevated carboxyhemoglobin saturation—is an indicator of carbon monoxide poisoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In healthy individuals, this marker is typically negative; in smokers, it may range from 0.02 to 0.04.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if someone suffers carbon monoxide poisoning in smoke, carboxyhemoglobin saturation spikes above 20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, whether the eyes were open or closed is hard to verify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After death, eyelids can be closed manually—for instance, some men, weeping in the fire, cover their brother’s eyelids, raising suspicion they strangled him and concealed the cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carboxyhemoglobin saturation requires toxicology testing to confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, for forensic pathologists, the most direct method was to cut open the airway and take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the victim’s anterior chest tissue, including the throat, had already carbonized; Niu Dong made a cut and saw nothing, so he stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we take blood for testing?” Jiang Yuan asked politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dong’s response lagged slightly behind Jiang Yuan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking blood is for toxicology testing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan volunteered again: “I’ll do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was here for training; he couldn’t just linger on the sidelines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Dong paused, then stepped aside to let Jiang Yuan take his place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan collected blood and gastric contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toxicology testing primarily focuses on these two samples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One reveals what’s in the blood; the other, what’s in the stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After collecting the samples, Jiang Yuan lightly tapped the abdominal cavity with his scalpel and asked: “Check inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lan and Niu Dong blinked, then murmured: “Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t need him to specify what to look for; all three forensic pathologists leaned in together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No clots.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The stomach was punctured, but no clots, no carbonization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The lower abdomen too—no carbonization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They silently voiced the key points in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a vessel was ruptured before death, it bleeds—because the heart is still pumping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If ruptured after death, it doesn’t bleed—the heart has stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason you can’t get blood-drained pork in Europe and America, beyond economic and cultural factors, is that draining blood requires the pig to be alive—something considered uncivilized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The absence of clots in the abdomen suggests the vessels were punctured after death—or…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, clots could have been burned away by the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning no carbonization in the stomach or lower abdomen eliminates possible alternative explanations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, toxic or mechanical asphyxia seems most likely—and after death, the body was stabbed so many times…” Niu Dong shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan gestured to the stab locations: “Possibly someone familiar—feared recognition, so added more stabs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very likely,” Niu Dong said, excited. “I’ll call right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cause of death was essentially determined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifics still depend on toxicology reports, but the fact that the abdominal wounds were postmortem significantly impacts the investigation—must notify frontline officers first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Niu Dong washed his hands, made the call, and re-gloved, he saw Jiang Yuan and Wang Lan had extracted the heart and were examining it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any findings?” Niu Dong hurried onto his stool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Petechial hemorrhages,” Jiang Yuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Asphyxia corroborating evidence,” Niu Dong nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asphyxia causes hypoxia, producing such petechial hemorrhages on multiple organ surfaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The victim’s heart showed exactly this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, given today’s body condition, noticing petechial hemorrhages was difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thoracic cavity was nearly burned through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the fire had burned slower and consumed the entire house, the heart would likely have been fully incinerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Yuan has sharp eyes,” Niu Dong remarked approvingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lan lifted his head, rubbing his neck, and added: “Jiang Yuan isn’t just sharp-eyed—he specifically looked for hemorrhages on organ surfaces. He checked the liver and kidneys too. The heart’s hemorrhages were already dried, but he still found them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang the forensic pathologist is capable,” Niu Dong nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowledge is in books—but applying it at the right moment, appropriately? That’s not simple. Niu Dong’s assessment of Jiang Yuan had shifted from “young newcomer” to “slightly higher regard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s finish the rest—the team leader Lei Xin is coming to check soon,” Niu Dong said, resuming his work with renewed vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Keyang, the trace evidence technician beside him, sighed, nearly nauseated: “Your team leader’s coming now? At midnight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He never sleeps at night. No problem,” Niu Dong showed zero concern for his superior’s well-being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan, Wang Lan, Cao Keyang, and the forensic assistant all nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the autopsy room grew unexpectedly warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, Lei Xin, captain of the criminal investigation unit in Qianjin District, Qinghe City, arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forensic Jiang, thank you, thank you for your hard work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinghe City has three districts; Qianjin District is an old urban area, and its criminal investigation unit ranks equally with Ningtai County’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a thin man with yellow hands and yellow teeth—clearly suited for thinking, not physical work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering, Lei Xin first politely greeted Jiang Yuan, then offered cigarettes to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan said, “No trouble,” took a cigarette, and lit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excessive flattery always has a motive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the opportunity to build rapport, Lei Xin added: “Forensic Jiang, Forensic Wang, Niu Dong, let me brief you on the case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin chose his words carefully: “Briefly, today—yesterday afternoon—a residential house in Qianjin District, a self-built home, caught fire. After extinguishing it, we found this female body… DNA comparison results just came in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The victim is Zhang Ying, 22, unmarried. She rented here. The scene showed her lying naked on the bed—possible home invasion rape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Self-built homes in urban villages have complex foot traffic and few surveillance cameras.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re currently investigating Zhang Ying’s social circle. She worked at a mall as a sales clerk for L’Oréal, but had no close colleagues. Her parents knew little about her social relationships…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After outlining everything, Lei Xin asked: “Forensic Jiang, would you have time to inspect the scene?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan didn’t object, but rubbed his head: “After arson, evidence is scarce.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d previously handled fingerprints in an arson case—his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin didn’t hide it: “The scene yielded almost no evidence. If we find no semen or similar proof, even if we identify a suspect, we’ll lack physical evidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The weapon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The weapon was found near the origin of the fire—a chef’s knife, Western-style, part of a five-piece set in a wooden box. The exterior is completely charred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, despite his flattery, Lei Xin’s current problem was genuinely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin complained half-seriously: “Our investigation hasn’t yielded results yet. Even if it does, I still have to worry about physical evidence. Modern homicide cases demand more and more—without DNA or solid physical evidence, prosecutors complain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lan nodded in deep agreement: “CSI effect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The CSI effect refers to how excessive exposure to TV shows, movies, and variety programs about forensic science has subtly raised public expectations of forensic capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Europe and America, the CSI effect manifests as jurors demanding more DNA testing and advanced technologies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In China, the CSI effect is more evident among leaders—especially non-specialist or higher-ranking ones. When they ask about “physical evidence,” investigators inevitably feel pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some extent, this is actually progress—leaders demanding “physical evidence” seem more scientific than those demanding “confessions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone like Lei Xin, a grassroots supervisor, everything had to be taken into account.\u003C\u002Fp>",1475,"2026-06-20T18:55:00.150Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","34fa303bbe37757ea02e9998b047fbd9e27b278ce2cc286cd70a274ca1d8583d","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-174","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-172",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-cover.jpg"]