A CLUE IN THE STUMP OF AN AMPUTATED FOREARM

The Roman method for amputation was the circular technique, first described by Aulus Cornelius Celsus (25 BCE-50 CE). Military surgeons preferred this technique because the wound healed quickly, and less soft tissue was exposed to the possibility of infection.

Additionally, circular amputation resulted in less operative pain, and patients could be transported with fewer complications.

Last week’s blog was about horse hooves as a clue in “The Brother.” This week’s blog is about another clue in the story. Miriam examines the stump of a corpse to determine when his forearm was amputated:

So, I examined the stump and removed what was left of his tunic to see whether he’d suffered other traumas. “The scarring around the stump is old. Look how white it is compared to the rest of his arm. Not even any redness, which means the injury occurred years ago.”

Miriam will stop at nothing to recover a rare manuscript. But you won’t have to bear the stink of gluemaking and the stench of decaying corpses to follow her adventure. The story will soon appear in Crime Pays, an anthology published by Hellbound Books. Just go to my website to get a head start on the story. Click here.