the works of edgar allan poe-1-第50章
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than that of the bulk of water which it displaces。 This effect is
brought about by decomposition； or otherwise。 The result of
decomposition is the generation of gas； distending the cellular
tissues and all the cavities； and giving the puffedappearance which
is to horrible。 When this distension has so far progressed that the
bulk of the corpse is materially increased with。 out a corresponding
increase of mass or weight； its specific gravity becomes less than
that of the water displaced； and it forthwith makes its appearance at
the surface。 But decomposition is modified by innumerable
circumstances … is hastened or retarded by innumerable agencies； for
example； by the heat or cold of the season； by the mineral
impregnation or purity of the water； by its depth or shallowness； by
its currency or stagnation； by the temperament of the body； by its
infection or freedom from disease before death。 Thus it is evident
that we can assign no period； with any thing like accuracy； at which
the corpse shall rise through decomposition。 Under certain conditions
this result would be brought about within an hour； under others； it
might not take place at all。 There are chemical infusions by which
the animal frame can be preserved foreverfrom corruption； the
Bi…chloride of Mercury is one。 But； apart from decomposition； there
may be； and very usually is； a generation of gas within the stomach；
from the acetous fermentation of vegetable matter （or within other
cavities from other causes） sufficient to induce a distension which
will bring the body to the surface。 The effect produced by the firing
of a cannon is that of simple vibration。 This may either loosen the
corpse from the soft mud or ooze in which it is imbedded； thus
permitting it to rise when other agencies have already prepared it
for so doing； or it may overcome the tenacity of some putrescent
portions of the cellular tissue； allowing the cavities to distend
under the influence of the gas。
〃Having thus before us the whole philosophy of this subject； we can
easily test by it the assertions of L'Etoile。 'All experience shows；'
says this paper； 'that drowned bodies； or bodies thrown into the
water immediately after death by violence； require from six to ten
days for sufficient decomposition to take place to bring them to the
top of the water。 Even when a cannon is fired over a corpse； and it
rises before at least five or six days' immersion； it sinks again if
let alone。'
〃The whole of this paragraph must now appear a tissue of
inconsequence and incoherence。 All experience does not show that
'drowned bodies' require from six to ten days for sufficient
decomposition to take place to bring them to the surface。 Both
science and experience show that the period of their rising is； and
necessarily must be； indeterminate。 If； moreover； a body has risen to
the surface through firing of cannon； it will not 'sink again if let
alone；' until decomposition has so far progressed as to permit the
escape of the generated gas。 But I wish to call your attention to the
distinction which is made between 'drowned bodies；' and 'bodies
thrown into the water immediately after death by violence。' Although
the writer admits the distinction； he yet includes them all in the
same category。 I have shown how it is that the body of a drowning man
becomes specifically heavier than its bulk of water； and that he
would not sink at all； except for the struggles by which he elevates
his arms above the surface； and his gasps for breath while beneath
the surface … gasps which supply by water the place of the original
air in the lungs。 But these struggles and these gasps would not occur
in the body 'thrown into the water immediately after death by
violence。' Thus； in the latter instance； the body； as a general rule；
would not sink at all … a fact of which L'Etoile is evidently
ignorant。 When decomposition had proceeded to a very great extent …
when the flesh had in a great measure left the bones … then； indeed；
but not till then； should we lose sight of the corpse。
〃And now what are we to make of the argument； that the body found
could not be that of Marie Rog阾； because； three days only having
elapsed； this body was found floating？ If drowned； being a woman； she
might never have sunk； or having sunk； might have reappeared in
twenty…four hours； or less。 But no one supposes her to have been
drowned； and； dying before being thrown into the river； she might
have been found floating at any period afterwards whatever。
〃 'But；' says L'Etoile； 'if the body had been kept in its mangled
state on shore until Tuesday night； some trace would be found on
shore of the murderers。' Here it is at first difficult to perceive
the intention of the reasoner。 He means to anticipate what he
imagines would be an objection to his theory … viz： that the body was
kept on shore two days； suffering rapid decomposition … morerapid
than if immersed in water。 He supposes that； had this been the case；
it might have appeared at the surface on the Wednesday； and thinks
that only under such circumstances it could so have appeared。 He is
accordingly in haste to show that it was not kept on shore； for； if
so； 'some trace would be found on shore of the murderers。' I presume
you smile at the sequitur。 You cannot be made to see how the mere
duration of the corpse on the shore could operate to multiply traces
of the assassins。 Nor can I。
〃 'And furthermore it is exceedingly improbable；' continues our
journal； 'that any villains who had committed such a murder as is
here supposed； would have thrown the body in without weight to sink
it； when such a precaution could have so easily been taken。' Observe；
here； the laughable confusion of thought！ No one … not even L'Etoile
… disputes the murder committed _on the body found_。 The marks of
violence are too obvious。 It is our reasoner's object merely to show
that this body is not Marie's。 He wishes to prove that Marie is not
assassinated … not that the corpse was not。 Yet his observation
proves only the latter point。 Here is a corpse without weight
attached。 Murderers； casting it in； would not have failed to attach a
weight。 Therefore it was not thrown in by murderers。 This is all
which is proved； if any thing is。 The question of identity is not
even approached； and L'Etoile has been at great pains merely to
gainsay now what it has admitted only a moment before。 'We are
perfectly convinced；' it says； 'that the body found was that of a
murdered female。'
〃Nor is this the sole instance； even in this division of his subject；
where our reasoner unwittingly reasons against himself。 His evident
object； I have already said； is to reduce； us much as possible； the
interval between Marie's disappearance and the finding of the corpse。
Yet we find him urging the point that no person saw the girl from the
moment of her leaving her mother's house。 'We have no evidence；' he
says； 'that Marie Rog阾 was in the land of the living after nine
o'clock on Sunday； June the twenty…second。' As his argument is
obviously an ex parte one； he should； at least； have left this matter
out of sight； for had any one been known to see Marie； say on Monday；
or on Tuesday； the interval in question would have been much reduced；
and； by his own ratiocination； the probability much diminished of the
corpse being that of the grisette。 It is； nevertheless； amusing to
observe that L'Etoile insists upon its point in the full belief of
its furthering its general argument。
〃Reperuse now that portion of this argument which has reference to
the identification of the corpse by Beauvais。 In regard to the hair
upon the arm； L'Etoile has been obviously disingenuous。 M。 Beauvais；
not being an idiot； could never have urged； in identification of the
corpse； simply hair upon its arm。 No arm is without hair。 The
generality of the expression of L'Etoile is a mere perversion of the
witness' phraseology。 He must have spoken of some peculiarity in this
hair。 It must have been a peculiarity of color； of quantity； of
length； or of situation。
〃 '
