Traumatic asphyxia (pressure stasis, ecchymotic mask) is a condition of sufficient rarity to justify reporting the following case:
REPORT OF CASE
W. L., man, aged 35, bridge builder, was injured, Oct. 21, 1916, while helping to make the connection between the top chords of a new truss which were being placed in final position. He was squeezed between the ends of the chords, which doubled him up and brought his head down on his knees. It was estimated by the patient that the weight of the end which came down on him was at least 7 tons. No accurate statement of the time this chord was pressing on him could be obtained. When I first saw him, within an hour from the time of the injury, he presented marked ecchymosis and swelling over the head and forehead and down to the malar bones. This area was dark purple and clearly