| Reference number | PP/10/55 |
| Previous numbers | PP/42/56 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Paper, 'On rigor mortis in fish, and its relation to putrefaction' by J [James Cossar] Ewart |
| Date | 1887 |
| Description | Ewart writes: 'It has been long recognised that rigor varies extremely not only in the time of its appearance, but also in its intensity. It may be well marked and resemble closely a spasm, or so indistinct that it is better compared to a stiffening than to a contraction of the muscles. So much is this the case that it might be convenient to describe rigor as accompanied with contraction in some cases and with stiffening in others. I have often noticed that when rigor comes on immediately after the loss of muscular irritability, it looks extremely like contraction; but when it is postponed for days, by lowering the temperature or otherwise, it more closely resembles coagulation.'
Annotations in pencil and ink.
Subject: Physiology / Putrefaction
Received 6 June 1887. Read 16 June 1887. Communicated by John Scott Burdon-Sanderson.
A version of this paper was published in volume 42 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On rigor mortis in fish, and its relation to putrefaction'. |
| Extent | 43p |
| Format | Typescript |
| Physical description | Ink and coloured pencil on paper |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| Access status | Open |
| Related material | DOI: 10.1098/rspl.1887.0097 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA8364 | Ewart; James Cossar (1851 - 1933) | 1851 - 1933 |
| NA8280 | Burdon-Sanderson; Sir; John Scott (1828 - 1905) | 1828 - 1905 |