EMPHASIS THROUGHOUT IS ON ADDING TO THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR SO THAT HE MAY, WITH CONFIDENCE, DETERMINE THE MANNER AS WELL AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH. THE FIRST SIX CHAPTERS DEAL WITH MECHANICS AND PROCEDURES. THEY INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS OF RECORDS, EVIDENCE, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS; THE AUTOPSY AND LABORATORY STUDY; THE POSTMORTEM INTERVAL; AND IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES. SPECIFIC TYPES OF VIOLENT AND SUDDEN DEATH WHICH ARE ADDRESSED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: SUICIDE; INFANT DEATH; HEAD INJURIES, POISONING; INJURY BY FIREARMS, SHARP INSTRUMENTS, BLUNT OBJECTS, HEAT, AND ELECTRICITY; AS WELL AS DROWNING; MECHANICAL ASPHYXIA (STRANGULATION AND HANGING); AND TRAFFIC DEATHS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)