The course of respiration in death caused by obstructive asphyxia

Experiments were carried out on 30 dogs to investigate the course of respiration during obstructive asphyxia. They were asphyxiated by occlusion of the exposed trachea. Intrathoracic pressure, blood pressure in the femoral artery, electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram readings were registered. In most cases, the respiration course during the dyspnea stage by occlusion of the trachea generally had an inspiratory character. In a few animals, when the trachea was occluded in the expiratory phase, there were a few positive expiratory respirations with moderate inspiratory movement and thereafter the respirations were inspiratory during the dyspnea stage. The terminal respirations, which occurred 1-2 min before the circulatory breakdown, were generally inspiratory, but in a few dogs they were expiratory.     

The forensic medical diagnosis of death-cup poisonings

Comparative analysis and evaluation of all modern methods used for medicolegal diagnosis of poisoning with Amanita phalloides are presented. Imperfection of methods used for laboratory diagnosis of such poisonings requires extensive experimental control using the designed method of liquid chromatography for amanitine and phalloidine assay in the cadaveric organs and tissues.     

Mental retardation, organic brain dysfunction, and the forensic clinician: some practical considerations

Mental retardation as it is frequently interrelated with a variety of organic brain dysfunctions may present unclear clinical pictures. This has particular relevance for the forensic practitioner who often needs to present his findings to the court in a clearly demarcated manner. This paper outlines the more commonly encountered entities in this area with consideration to forensic science implications.     

Analysis of thin-layer chromatograms of paint pigments and dyes by direct microspectrophotometry

The Nanospec 10S microspectrophotometer has been used to produce reflectance spectra over the 380–900 nm range from coloured thin-layer chromatography spots. The method has been applied to extracted paint pigments and to dyes from other materials examined in forensic science.     

The mechanism of death in whole-body overheating

Data on anatomo-clinical analysis of 36 cases of death due to general overheating of a body are presented. On the basis of these data can be stated that in most cases the effect of high ambient temperature combined with great physical exercise and prolonged exposure to the caused death within short (up to 3 days) periods of time as a result of cessation of CNS functioning. Without physical exercise and direct insolation death usually occurred later (on the average of 5-9 days) from acute renal and renal-hepatic failure. Morphologic changes were unspecific.