preoperatively. Plain films of the abdomen were
obtained in only 29 of the 91 patients admitted
alive, and in 23 of these free fluid was demonstrated
on the films.
Treatment
Twenty-nine out of the whole series were dead
on arrival (Table I). In 4 of these the cause of
death was profuse bleeding from liver rupture
and the rest had multiple injuries as well.
Of the 91 patients admitted alive 27 were
treated without operation. Two of these survived
and minor liver injuries were diagnosed
from the history, symptoms, physical signs, and
radiographic findings. The remaining 25 patients
died, of whom 16 had other severe injuries.
Nine patients, however, succumbed from rupture
of the liver only, without laparotomy, and most of