manner_of_death johannes van damme
___MASK45___ is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck . The " Oxford English Dictionary " states that ___MASK45___ in this sense is " specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck ", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain " ___MASK45___ ". ___MASK45___ has been a common method of ___MASK79___ since medieval times , and is the official execution method in numerous countries and regions . The first account of execution by ___MASK45___ was in Homer ' s " Odyssey ". In this specialised meaning of the common word " hang ", the past and past participle is " hanged " instead of " hung ". Impalement , as a method of execution , is the penetration of a human by an object such as a stake , pole , spear , or hook , often by complete or partial perforation of the torso . It was used particularly in response to " crimes against the state " and regarded across a number of cultures as a very harsh form of ___MASK79___ and recorded in myth and art . Impalement was also used during wartime to suppress rebellion , punish traitors or collaborators , and as a punishment for breaches of military discipline . ___MASK79___ , also known as the death penalty , is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime . The sentence that someone be punished in such a manner is referred to as a death sentence , whereas the act of carrying out the sentence is known as an execution . Crimes that are punishable by death are known as capital crimes or capital offences , and commonly include offences such as murder , treason , espionage , war crimes , crimes against humanity and genocide . The term " capital " is derived from the Latin " capitalis " (" of the head ", referring to execution by beheading ). Strychnine (; also or ) is a highly toxic , colorless , bitter , crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide , particularly for ___MASK93___ small vertebrates such as birds and rodents . Strychnine , when inhaled , swallowed , or absorbed through the eyes or mouth , causes poisoning which results in muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia . While it has no known medicinal effects , in the past the convulsant effect was believed to be beneficial in small doses . The most common source is from the seeds of the " Strychnos nux - vomica " tree . ___MASK54___ is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli . Typical signs and symptoms include a varying severity and combination of productive or dry cough , chest pain , fever , and trouble breathing , depending on the underlying cause . ___MASK54___ is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria and less commonly by other microorganisms , certain medications and conditions such as autoimmune diseases . Risk factors include other lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis , COPD , and asthma , diabetes , heart failure , a history of smoking , a poor ability to cough such as following a stroke , or a weak immune system . Diagnosis is often based on the symptoms and physical examination . Chest X - ray , blood tests , and culture of the sputum may help confirm the diagnosis . The disease may be classified by where it was acquired with community , hospital , or health care associated ___MASK54___ . Vaccines to prevent certain types of ___MASK54___ are available . Other methods of prevention include handwashing and not smoking . Treatment depends on the underlying cause . ___MASK54___ believed to be due to bacteria is treated with antibiotics . If the ___MASK54___ is severe , the affected person is generally hospitalized . Oxygen therapy may be used if oxygen levels are low . ___MASK54___ affects approximately 450 million people globally ( 7 % of the population ) and results in about 4 million deaths per year . ___MASK54___ was regarded by William Osler in the 19th century as " the captain of the men of death ". With the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines in the 20th century , survival improved . Nevertheless , in developing countries , and among the very old , the very young , and the chronically ill , ___MASK54___ remains a leading cause of death . ___MASK54___ often shortens suffering among those already close to death and has thus been called " the old man ' s friend ". Johannes van Damme ( 1 June 1935 -- 23 September 1994 ) was a Dutch engineer executed by ___MASK45___ in Singapore for smuggling heroin . He was the first European and Westerner to be executed in Singapore since its independence . Crucifixion is a historical method of ___MASK79___ in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang for several days until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation . It is principally known from classical antiquity , but remains in occasional use in some countries . Heroin , also known as diamorphine among other names , is an opiate typically used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects . Medically it is occasionally used to relieve pain and as a form of opioid replacement therapy alongside counseling . Heroin is typically injected , usually into a vein ; however , it can also be smoked , snorted or inhaled . Onset of effects is usually rapid and lasts for a few hours . Common side effects include respiratory depression ( decreased breathing ) and about a quarter of those who use heroin become physically dependent . Other side effects can include abscesses , infected heart valves , blood borne infections , constipation , and ___MASK54___ . After a history of long - term use , withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of last use . When given by injection into a vein , heroin has two to three times the effect as a similar dose of morphine . It typically comes as a white or brown powder . Treatment of heroin addiction often includes behavioral therapy and medications . Medications used may include methadone or naltrexone . A heroin overdose may be treated with naloxone . An estimated 17 million people as of 2015 use opiates such as heroin , which together with opioids resulted in 122 , 000 deaths . The total number of opiate users has increased from 1998 to 2007 after which it has remained more or less stable . In the United States about 1 . 6 percent of people have used heroin at some point in time . When people die from overdosing on a drug , the drug is usually an opioid . Heroin was first made by C . R . Alder Wright in 1874 from morphine , a natural product of the opium poppy . Internationally , heroin is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs . It is generally illegal to make , possess , or sell heroin without a license . In 2015 Afghanistan produced about 66 % of the world ' s opium . Often heroin , which is illegally sold , is mixed with other substances such as sugar or strychnine .