The 'stomach-air test' (Breslau's test) performed at autopsy of a suspected newborn contributes what information?
- A Presence of air in the stomach supports that the infant breathed after birth ✓
- B It estimates gestational age from stomach capacity
- C Milk curd in the stomach proves the infant was murdered by smothering
- D It distinguishes maternal from fetal blood in gastric contents
Correct answer: A. Presence of air in the stomach supports that the infant breathed after birth
Explanation
During respiration an infant swallows air along with inhaling it, so air demonstrable in the stomach (and intestines) at autopsy indicates that breathing was established. It complements the lung floatation test, being useful when aeration is insufficient for the lungs to float. Gestational age is assessed by weight, length, and ossification centres such as the calcaneus, not gastric capacity, which eliminates option B. Milk in the stomach merely shows feeding or swallowing, not the mode of death.
Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 7th ed.
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