Spitz And Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation Of Death: Guidelines For The Application Of Pathology To Crime Investigation
Werner U., M.D. Spitz, Daniel J., M.D. Spitz, Ramsey Clark, Russell S. Fisher
page 1070: Autonomic dysfunction can produce serious symptoms related to circulation and temperature regulation. Complete or substantial lesions of the cervical or upper thoracic cord may produce the effect of sympathectomy manifesting with bradycardia (unopposed vagal action) and hypothermia (heat loss due to vasodilation). These effects must be sorted out from the other possible injuries such as shock due to blood loss or infection. These individuals may not be able to able to generate fever, thus masking the presence of infection. They often remain at least partially poikilothermic and are vulnerable to high or low environmental temperatures.