The Forensic Trace Examiner: Silent Clues

Chapter 3 Open three cavities

The funeral parlor loomed before them. The hearse, with its somber cargo, sped in, deposited the body, and then vanished like a fleeting shadow, leaving behind a weighty form upon the stretcher. "To embark on the path of a forensic doctor, one must commence with the arduous task of moving the body," proclaimed Wu Jun, his hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile playing upon his lips. "Your physique is truly tailor - made for this task." His classmates in the bustling metropolises had long since, two decades prior, attained a certain ease in such matters. Alas, Ningtai County was a place that seemed to repel talent. Newly recruited forensic doctors would arrive, only to depart soon after, in an endless cycle. Throughout the year, Wu Jun scarcely had the fortune of having assistance in moving bodies. The most ill - fated times were when there were no corpses when the new forensic doctor was present, and they would materialize only after the doctor had left.

Jiang Yuan, pushing the stretcher, his eyes alight with curiosity, inquired, "Does the county bureau not possess an autopsy room? The kind with that eerily white light, like in the television dramas?" "Ah, like those scenes on TV?" Wu Jun shook his head ruefully. "The affluent cities can afford such luxuries. In a humble county like ours, it's a pipe dream. When conducting autopsies, we require not only an autopsy room but also equipment such as ice coffins for storing the bodies. If we're to be meticulous, ventilation systems, washrooms, all need to be maintained. It's far more practical to rent from the funeral parlor. The county bureau can allocate another hundred thousand or several hundred thousand yuan to spruce up the autopsy room, and that should suffice."

"Surely, this arrangement poses inconveniences for evidence collection?" "Typically, we merely draw some blood and retrieve stomach contents. In a county of this size, how far could one possibly need to travel? Convenient parking is of far greater importance. After all, the bodies don't have the luxury of being choosy," Wu Jun quipped with a chuckle. Jiang Yuan cast his eyes downward, gazing at his seventeenth uncle. He recalled that during the Spring Festival, his uncle had seemed rather particular. Of course, those days of being finicky were now long gone.

"In the future, when you visit, remember to keep a pack of cigarettes in your pocket and occasionally purchase some pastries. Cultivate good relations with the staff here. Befriending those in the funeral parlor will smooth the way for your work," Wu Jun advised in a hushed tone as they walked, pressing the elevator button. "The funeral parlor, too, is a realm of social interaction." Jiang Yuan offered a faint smile and replied, "Understood."

The autopsy room of the Ningtai County Funeral Parlor was nestled in the basement. Thankfully, an elevator provided access, making the journey somewhat less cumbersome. However, the intermittent red glow of the fire alarm lights in the dim corridor sent shivers down one's spine. Inside the room, light flooded in profusely. The floor was adorned with large tiles, and the walls with smaller ones. In the center stood a cold, stainless - steel autopsy table. To the left of the entrance was a washbasin and an elongated row of stainless - steel cabinets. At a casual glance, one might mistake it for an ordinary kitchen.

At this moment, Wu Jun stepped forward to lend a hand. He wheeled the stretcher next to the autopsy table, using his foot to elevate the stretcher's surface until it was level with the table. Then, with great care, he transferred the body onto the table. "Go and ascertain if the family members have arrived. If so, summon them. It's time to begin the autopsy," he instructed. Jiang Yuan's eyes fixed intently on his seventeenth uncle. His once - robust uncle now lay on the stainless - steel surface, his belly swollen high, a pale expanse that, under the harsh light, revealed the fine, erect hairs, sending a wave of unease through Jiang Yuan, a mix of dread and discomfort.

"The telephone is by the door," Wu Jun reminded, his voice flat and matter - of - fact. Jiang Yuan tore his gaze away and walked to the door, picking up the landline to make the call. In China, it is mandatory to notify the next of kin to be present and sign prior to an autopsy. In practice, it is often non - blood relatives, such as brothers - in - law, uncles - in - law, or sons - in - law, who show up. When a direct relative does arrive, it is customary to prepare an additional trash can, anticipating their potential distress.

Moments later, a man was ushered in, his eyes wide with bewilderment and fear as he surveyed the unfamiliar and macabre surroundings. "Uncle - in - law," Jiang Yuan recognized him. He was his seventeenth uncle's brother - in - law, his nineteenth aunt's husband. They had likely met during the ancestral hall ceremony two years ago. "Jiang Yuan!" The uncle - in - law exclaimed, his face lighting up with a mix of relief and emotion. His eyes, brimming with feeling, met Jiang Yuan's across the body of his elder brother - in - law. "Your seventeenth uncle passed away so suddenly. Thank goodness you're a coroner. Please do right by him..."

"We're commencing," Wu Jun interjected, thrusting a full - body surgical gown into Jiang Yuan's hands. Jiang Yuan slipped it on over his clothes. Wu Jun then briskly whisked away the white cloth covering the body. "Confirm, is this Jiang Jiancheng?" he asked. The uncle - in - law gagged, a retch escaping his lips, before managing to say, "It should be." "Sign here and record your ID number," Wu Jun instructed, watching as the man complied. Then, turning to Jiang Yuan, he said, "Not everyone has the fortitude to perform an autopsy on someone they know. If you're not up to it, that's entirely understandable." "I'm capable," Jiang Yuan asserted. Prior to entering, he had steeled his resolve. Now, his heart was a maelstrom of emotions, yet he was determined not to yield.

Wu Jun nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "You start," he said. He was eager to gauge Jiang Yuan's capabilities. If Jiang Yuan faltered or made an error, he was prepared to offer guidance. This was how he had mentored all the previous new forensic doctors. Jiang Yuan's expression was solemn, a hint of nervousness and hesitation betraying his otherwise composed demeanor. Regarding autopsies, Jiang Yuan's practical experience was limited. However, during his few stints at school, his performance had earned him high praise from the professor, who had lauded him as "exceptionally gifted." Had this not been his seventeenth uncle's body, he might have been more composed.

"Begin with the examination of the body surface," Jiang Yuan instructed himself, taking a deep, steadying breath. The furrow in his brow vanished as he focused. He placed a notebook beside him and, as he examined the body, recited, "The deceased, Jiang Jianfeng, 50 years old, male, height 169 centimeters, weight 188 jin... A crescent - shaped birthmark adorns the left buttock, approximately 5 centimeters in length..." "Next, record the general condition. Rectal body temperature is..."

Jiang Yuan immersed himself in the task, documenting the state of the scalp, the degree of baldness, and proceeding to the pupils, conjunctiva, nasal cavity, and teeth. Most of the body - surface examination had been completed at the scene, and Jiang Yuan merely recited the earlier findings methodically. When it came to the conjunctiva and teeth, he conducted a meticulous re - examination. His approach impressed Wu Jun, who nodded in approval. "Well done... Have you performed an autopsy before?" he inquired. Jiang Yuan replied, "I had a few opportunities at school." "That's commendable. These days, many schools only allow students one autopsy experience." "I was fortunate to participate in several autopsies while working on a project with the professor."

"Ah, have you opened the three cavities?" Wu Jun queried. The three cavities - cranial, thoracic, and abdominal - enclose the body's vital organs, blood vessels, and nerves, and are crucial for determining the cause of death in forensic pathology. Jiang Yuan affirmed, "Yes, I've opened them twice." "Then, it's your turn," Wu Jun said, handing Jiang Yuan the scalpel. "You may be aware, but I must caution you. Exercise extreme care when cutting. Avoid slicing your hand. The low temperature in the autopsy room numbs the senses, and the scalpel is razor - sharp. You may not even feel it if you cut yourself. The tell - tale sign is fresh blood. The body doesn't bleed, so if there's blood, it's yours," he warned.

Jiang Yuan nodded, steeling himself. He regarded the body before him, adjusted his stance, and grasped the scalpel. Lowering the blade to the neck, he made a single, fluid incision, stretching all the way to the upper part of the pubic symphysis. His seventeenth uncle's body was stout, necessitating a deep cut. The exposed fat was a sickly combination of yellow and white. The long, straight incision was far more gruesome than any seen in the sanitized portrayals of movies and television. This was the standard technique used by forensic doctors in China, distinct from the Y - shaped incision favored in the United States.

Subsequently, Jiang Yuan set about separating the chest's muscle tissues, then carefully followed the line of the cartilage connecting the ribs and sternum with his scalpel. As the autopsy commenced, the uncle - in - law, his nerves frayed, took a sharp breath. His face paled, and he turned abruptly, retching violently.