Beitrage zur gerichtlichen Medizin最新文献

98 test coolings were made under various cooling conditions (moving air, two types of both clothing and covering) on dummies of real masses of 1, 3.3, 9.9, 24.5 and 33.4 kg resp. which cool under standard conditions (unclothed, uncovered, still air) like human bodies of 14, 33, 41, 83 and 104 kg resp. The results provide evidence on a nonlinear dependence of corrective factors of body weight upon the body weight. The dynamics of the dependence increases with the thickness of thermic isolation. Transferred to the use of the nomogram method on bodies, cooling conditions requiring corrective factors known by experience between 0.75 (moving air) and 1.3 (rather thin clothing/covering) can be used as in the past independent on the body weight. Only in higher corrective factors for thicker clothing/covering according to experience the dependence of corrective factors on the body weight must be taken into account in bodies of a very high or low body weight. Beside a simplified table a formula for computing is also given for that purpose.

The ear, well known anatomically in earlier investigations was only measured. We looked for 144 newborns and children (sex, age, morphology). We studied carefully and first of all systematically size, form and condition of the auricula. The form is genetically determined. Babies have a relative big ear between 9 and 15 months of age (accelerated?). In early time (20 century) this development only seen by children 3 years old. Eight specific characters changes with age (months). Outcome are proofed on 732 pupils. In forensic medicine a scientist should know this results before expertise of identification by mass disasters or unknown children.

Genomic DNA was isolated from tissue specimen by two different methods. The rapid extraction according to Higuchi provided increased product yield of DNA in a better quality than the extraction with phenol/chloroform. Comparing the organ tissues according to quantity and quality of DNA it was found that best yield was recovered from brain tissue followed by lung and liver. DNA stability is directly influenced by postmortal age and age of the bodies.

The documents of 154 drug victims dissected in the Centre of Legal Medicine of the University of Frankfurt am Main in 1987 and 1988 were examined by computer. The average age i.e. was 26 years, the share of women 23 per cent. In 47 per cent the main cause of death was an overdoses of heroin and in 48 per cent heroin was the first drug that was taken. 58 per cent of the drug victims came from totally intact families.

At necropsy of fatal cases due to craniocerebral trauma it is highly recommended that the intraosseous course of the internal carotid arteries are dissected, as detected injuries of these vessels may allow improved conclusions concerning the course of death. Suitable preparation techniques are presented. On the basis of the anatomical and physiological situation as well as pathophysiological considerations the acute lethal outcome of traumatic rupture of the intraosseous part of these arteries is not to be interpreted as death by hemorrhagic/hypovolemic shock but rather as lethal cerebral hypoxia subsequent to a rapidly developing insufficiency of the brain circulation.

Two cases of fatal chloral hydrate poisoning are reported. The young men were prisoners in jails of Vorarlberg. During their captivity the doctor prescribed them 4 g chloral hydrate per day because of insomnia. They accumulated some doses and consumed it all together. Causes of death were brain swelling with premature craniostenosis in one case and vomiting with aspiration of stomach content in the other. Morphological and toxicological findings are presented and juridical consequences are turned out.

At the Prägratkees (Granatspitz, Tyrol) human bones, pieces of equipment and garment were found at the same site in 1953 and 1990. According to the forensic investigations, the bones were attached to a 37 year-old mountain climber, who has been missed since 1936. Because of the fact that between both discoveries an interval of 37 years elapsed, it is doubtful whether the bones are from one person. The forensic conclusion, that the bones are attached to one person could be supported by the glaciological situation of this glacier.

Influence of the acute and chronic alcohol influence in connection with the sudden unexpected death is very high. Between 1986 and 1990 in 949 death cases out of 2402 autopsies carried out in the Institute for Forensic Medicine in Essen the death could be related either to chronic alcohol abuses or to an acute alcoholisation. The influence of alcohol in the various kinds of death is described.

A mass spectrometric screening method for the detection of barbiturates in serum will be presented. Fragmentation of barbiturates under EI conditions leads to a loss of HNCO. Therefore, "neutral loss scans" of 43 u allow the indication of possibly existing representatives of this class of compounds. Identification can be achieved by "daughter" or "parent ion scans". Thus, 10 micrograms/ml apro-, pento- and phenobarbital could be detected in serum.

To support police in reenacting criminal acts is one of the most important functions of forensic investigation. This case report deals with the discovery of the corpse of a 42-year old man at the bank of the river Inn. First of all the man was supposed to be drowned, but the autopsy showed a gunshot wound of the neck and a shot-through of the brain-stem. Intensive search for the weapon by the police and by divers was unsuccessful and therefore suspicion of homicide arose. The reconstruction of the act at the site of discovery of the corpse led to the discovery of the weapon and the case became clear to be a suicide.