凡验尸，不过刀刃杀伤与他物斗打、拳手殴击，或自缢、或勒杀、或投水、或被人溺杀
、或病患数者致命而已。然有勒杀类乎自缢；溺死类乎投水；斗殴有在限内致命，而实因病
患身死；人力、女使因被捶挞，在主家自害自缢之类。理有万端，并为疑难，临时审察，切
勿轻易，差之毫厘，失之千里。
凡检验疑难尸首，如刃物所伤通过者，须看内外疮口∶大处为行刃处，小处为通过处。
如尸首烂，须看其原衣服，比伤着去处。
尸或覆卧，其右手有短刃物及竹头之类，自喉至脐下者，恐是酒醉撺倒，自压自伤。
如近有登高处或泥，须看身上有无财物、有无损动处，恐因取物失脚自伤之类。
检妇人，无伤损处，须看阴门，恐有自此入刀于腹内。离皮浅，则脐上下微有血沁，深则
无。多是单独人、求食妇人。
如男子，须看顶心，恐有平头钉；粪门，恐有硬物自此入。多是同行人，因丈夫年老、
妇人年少之类也。
凡尸在身无痕损，唯面色有青黯，或一边似肿，多是被人以物搭口鼻及罨捂杀。或者用
手巾、布袋之类绞杀，不见痕，更看(顶)，〔项〕上肉硬即是。切要(者)，〔看〕手足有无击缚痕，舌上恐有嚼
破痕，大小便二处恐有踏肿痕。若无此类，方看口内有无涎唾?喉间肿与不肿?如有涎及肿，
恐患缠喉风死，宜详。
若
多有人相斗殴了，各自分散。散后，或有去近江河、池塘边，洗头面上血、或取水吃
，却为方相打了，尚困乏；或因醉相打后头旋，落水淹死。落水时尚活，其尸腹肚膨胀，十
指甲内有沙泥，两手向前，验得只是落水淹死分明。其尸上有殴击痕损，更不可定作致命去
处，但一一札上验状，只定作落水致命，最捷。缘打伤虽在要害处，尚有辜限，在法虽在辜限
内及限外以他故死者，各根据本殴伤法。(注他故谓别增余患而死者)今既是落水身死，则虽有痕伤，其
实是以他故致死分明。曾有验官，为见头上伤损，却定作因打伤迷闷不觉，倒在水内；却将
打伤处作致命，致招罪人翻异不绝。
更有相打散，乘高扑下卓死，亦然。但验失脚处高下，扑损痕瘢致命要害处，仍须根究
曾见相打分散证佐人。
凡验因争斗致死，虽二主分明，而尸上并无痕损，何以定要害致命处?此必是被伤人旧
有宿患、气疾，或者未争斗以前，先曾饮酒至醉，至争斗时有所触犯，致气绝而死也。如此
者，多是肾子或一个或两个缩上不见，须用温醋汤蘸衣服或绵絮之类，罨一饭久，令仵作行
人以手按小腹下，其肾子自下，即其验也。然后仔细看要害致命处。
昔有甲乙同行，乙有随身衣物，而甲欲谋取之。甲呼乙行，路至溪河，欲渡。中流，甲
执乙就水而死，是无痕也。何以验之?先验其尸瘦劣、大小，十指甲各黑黯色，指甲及鼻孔
内各有沙泥，胸前赤色，口唇青斑，腹肚胀。此乃乙劣而为甲之所执于水而致死也。当究甲
之原情，须有赃证，以观此验，万无失一。
又有年老人，以手捂之，而气亦绝，是无痕而死也。
有一乡民，令外甥并邻人子，将锄头同开山种粟。经再宿不归，及往观焉，乃二人俱死
在山。遂闻官。随身衣服并在，牒官验尸。验官到地头，见一尸在小茅舍外，后项骨断，头
面各有刃伤痕；一尸在茅舍内，左项下、右脑后各有刃伤痕。在外者，众曰∶先被伤而死。
在内者，众曰∶后自刃而死。官司但以各有伤，别无财物，定两相并杀。一验官独曰∶“不然
，若以情度情，作两相并杀而死，可矣；其舍内者，右脑后刃痕可疑，岂有自用刃于脑后者
?手不便也。”不数日间，乃缉得一人，挟仇并杀两人。县案明，遂闻州，正极典。不然，二
冤永无归矣。大凡相并杀，余痕无疑即可为检验。贵在精专，不可失误。
凡检验尸体，无非是刀斧杀伤、其他物体斗打、拳脚殴打，或者是自缢、勒死、投水、被人溺死，或者因疾病导致死亡等情况。然而，勒死的情况类似自缢；溺死的情况类似投水；斗殴中有的在法定期限内致死，而实际上是因为患者本身患病而死；雇工、婢女因被主人鞭打，而在主家自害或自缢之类。道理有万种变化，都成为疑难问题，临时审察时，切勿轻易下结论，差之毫厘，谬以千里。
凡检验疑难尸体，如被利器刺穿者，必须查看内外伤口：大处为刀刃进入处，小处为刀刃穿出通过处。如果尸体腐烂，必须查看其原有衣服，比对受伤的位置。
尸体如果是俯卧，右手有短刃物及竹头之类，从喉咙至脐下，恐怕是酒醉摔倒，自己压伤自己。如果附近有高处或泥土，须看身上有无财物、有无损伤处，恐怕是因取物失足自伤之类。
检验妇女，若无明显外伤，须查看阴门，恐怕有从此处将刀插入腹内。若离皮肤浅，则肚脐上下微有血沁出，深则无。这多是独居之人、乞食妇女。
若是男子，须查看头顶心，恐怕有平头钉；肛门，恐怕有硬物从此处进入。这多是同行的人，因丈夫年老、妇人年少之类情况。
凡尸体身上无痕损，唯面色青暗，或一边似肿胀，多是被他用物捂住口鼻及面部闷死。或者用手巾、布袋之类绞杀，不见痕迹，更要看颈部上肉变硬即是。切要看手足有无击打捆绑痕迹，舌头上恐怕有咬破痕迹，大小便二处恐怕有踩踏肿胀痕迹。如果没有此类情况，才看口内有无涎唾？喉间是否肿胀？如有涎沫及肿胀，恐怕患缠喉风而死，宜详细查验。
若多人相斗殴后，各自分散。散后，有人去近江河、池塘边，洗头面上血、或取水喝，却因为是刚打过架，尚且困乏；或因醉酒打架后头晕，落水淹死。落水时还活着，其尸体腹部膨胀，十指甲内有沙泥，两手向前，验得只是落水淹死分明。其尸体上有殴击痕损，更不可定为致命之处，但一一记录在验状上，只定为落水致命，最为快捷。因为打伤虽然在要害处，尚有法定的辜限（指伤人者需承担责任的期限），在法律上即使在辜限内及限外因其他原因死者，各根据本殴伤法处理。（注：他故谓别增余患而死者）如今既然是落水身死，则虽有痕伤，其实是以其他原因致死分明。曾有检验官员，因为见头上伤损，却定为因打伤迷闷不觉，倒在水内；却将打伤处作为致命处，致使招致罪人翻供不绝。
更有相打散，乘高扑下摔死，亦然。但检验失脚处高低，扑损痕瘢致命要害处，仍须根究曾见相打分散的证人。
凡检验因争斗致死，虽然双方责任分明，而尸体上并无痕损，何以定要害致命处？这必是被伤人旧有宿疾、气疾，或者未争斗以前，先曾饮酒至醉，至争斗时有所触犯，致气绝而死也。如此情况，多是睾丸或一个或两个缩上不见，须用温醋汤蘸衣服或绵絮之类，敷一饭之久，令仵作行人用手按小腹下，其睾丸自然下垂，即其验证。然后仔细看要害致命处。
昔日有甲乙同行，乙有随身衣物，而甲欲谋取之。甲呼乙行，路至溪河，欲渡。中流，甲执乙就水而死，是无痕也。何以验之？先验其尸瘦弱、大小，十指甲各黑黯色，指甲及鼻孔内各有沙泥，胸前赤色，口唇青斑，腹肚胀。此乃乙瘦弱而为甲之所执于水而致死也。当究甲之原情，须有赃证，以观此验，万无失一。
又有年老人，以手捂之，而气亦绝，是无痕而死也。
有一乡民，令外甥并邻人子，将锄头同开山种粟。经过两夜不归，及往观焉，乃二人俱死在山。遂闻官。随身衣服并在，牒官验尸。验官到地头，见一尸在小茅舍外，后项骨断，头面各有刃伤痕；一尸在茅舍内，左项下、右脑后各有刃伤痕。在外者，众人说：先被伤而死。在内者，众人说：后自刃而死。官司但以各有伤，别无财物，定两相并杀。一验官独曰：“不然，若以情度情，作两相并杀而死，可矣；其舍内者，右脑后刃痕可疑，岂有自用刃于脑后者？手不便也。”不数日间，乃缉得一人，挟仇并杀两人。县案明，遂闻州，正极典。不然，二冤永无归矣。大凡相并杀，余痕无疑即可为检验。贵在精专，不可失误。
In all corpse examinations, the causes of death are generally limited to injuries from blades or other objects during fights, blows with fists and feet, hanging by self-strangulation, strangulation by another, drowning by jumping into water, being drowned by another, or death due to illness. However, strangulation can resemble hanging; drowning can resemble jumping into water; in a fight, death may occur within the legal liability period but actually result from pre-existing illness; servants or maids may harm themselves or hang themselves after being beaten by their masters. The circumstances are myriad and complex, constituting difficult cases. One must examine carefully at the time and never be hasty; a slight error leads to a huge mistake.
When examining difficult corpses, such as those pierced by sharp objects, one must inspect both internal and external wounds: the larger opening is where the blade entered, and the smaller one is where it passed through. If the corpse is decomposed, one must examine the original clothing and compare it with the injury sites.
If a corpse is lying face down and has a short blade or bamboo shard from the throat to below the navel on the right hand, it is likely that the person fell while drunk and injured themselves by falling on the object. If there are high places or mud nearby, check for valuables or signs of struggle on the body, as it might be an accidental injury while retrieving something.
When examining women, if there are no obvious external injuries, check the vaginal opening, as a knife may have been inserted internally from there. If the wound is superficial, there will be slight blood seepage above and below the navel; if deep, there will be none. This often occurs among solitary individuals or beggar women.
For men, check the vertex of the head for flat-headed nails, and the anus for hard objects inserted. This often happens among travelers, particularly involving older men and younger women.
If a corpse shows no marks on the body but has a cyanotic or dark complexion, or swelling on one side, it is likely caused by suffocation using an object over the mouth and nose, or strangulation with a handkerchief or cloth bag without leaving visible marks. Check if the neck muscles are rigid. Crucially, inspect the hands and feet for signs of beating or binding, check the tongue for bite marks, and examine the anal and urethral openings for bruising from trampling. If none of these are present, then check for saliva in the mouth and swelling in the throat. Saliva and swelling suggest death from *Chantou Feng* (Peritonsillar Abscess/Suffocating Throat Wind), which requires detailed verification.
If many people fought and then dispersed, some might go near rivers or ponds to wash blood off their faces or drink water. Being exhausted from the fight or dizzy from drunkenness, they might fall in and drown. If alive upon entering the water, the corpse's abdomen will be bloated, sand and mud found under the fingernails, and hands extended forward. These signs clearly indicate drowning. Even if there are bruises from fighting, do not assume they are fatal; record them in the report but conclude death by drowning. Although injuries may be in vital areas, legal liability periods (*Guxian*) apply. According to law, if death occurs within or outside this period due to other causes, judgment follows specific rules regarding the initial assault. (Note: "Other causes" refers to death resulting from additional complications.) Since the cause is drowning, despite any marks, the actual cause is clear. Former examiners who attributed death to unconsciousness from head injuries leading to falling into water, and treated the head injury as fatal, often faced endless appeals from defendants.
Similarly, if people disperse after a fight and fall from heights, causing death, the examination should focus on the height of the fall and the impact injuries at vital points. It is essential to investigate witnesses who saw the fight disperse.
In cases of death resulting from disputes where no external marks are found, determining the fatal site is challenging. This is often due to the victim's pre-existing chronic conditions or qi disorders, or intoxication before the fight. Provocation during the dispute may lead to sudden qi stagnation and death. In such cases, the testicles may retract upwards and disappear. To verify, soak clothes or cotton in warm vinegar water, apply to the lower abdomen for the duration of a meal, and have the coroner press the lower abdomen. The testicles should descend, confirming the diagnosis. Then, carefully inspect for any vital injuries.
Historically, A and B traveled together. B had belongings, and A desired them. A led B to a river to cross. Mid-stream, A held B underwater until death, leaving no marks. How to verify? Examine the corpse: emaciated, blackened fingernails, sand/mud in nails and nostrils, red chest, blue lips, and bloated abdomen. These indicate B was held underwater by A. Investigate A's motive and look for stolen goods to confirm this conclusion infallibly.
Elderly persons can also die from suffocation by hand pressure without external marks.
A villager sent his nephew and a neighbor's son to clear land for millet with hoes. They did not return after two nights. Upon investigation, both were found dead in the mountains. The case was reported. Their clothes were intact, and an official examiner was summoned. At the scene, one corpse was outside a small hut with a broken posterior neck bone and blade wounds on the head and face; the other was inside the hut with blade wounds on the left neck and right occiput. Witnesses said the one outside died first from wounds, and the one inside committed suicide later. The authorities, seeing wounds on both and no missing valuables, ruled it a mutual killing. One examiner disagreed, stating: "If we judge by human nature, mutual killing is possible; however, the wound on the right occiput of the one inside is suspicious. Who can use a blade on their own back of the head easily?" Within days, a murderer holding a grudge against both was caught. The county case was clarified, reported to the prefecture, and justice was served. Otherwise, the two冤 (injustices) would never be resolved. Generally, in mutual killings, if other marks are unambiguous, they serve as evidence for examination. Precision and dedication are paramount; errors must be avoided.