The effect of electricity on the myoglobin content of the human heart and skeletal muscles

The myoglobin content of heart muscles was examined by the indirect immunoperoxidase method in eight autopsy cases where death was due to electricity. Seven cases showed a considerable release of myoglobin from the myocardial fibers. In experimental comparison, the heart muscles and skeletal muscles from nine cases where death was natural were exposed to electricity, and considerable deletion of myoglobin was also demonstrated. We believe that the findings of ischemia or thermal effects due to electricity were the cause of the release of myoglobin. Because the demonstration of myoglobin is preferable to estimation of the damaged areas of muscles by hematoxylin-eosin staining, this examination may be more advantageous in forensic examination of death by electricity.     

Consequences of restitution

A group of 419 adult property offenders granted probation and ordered to repay their victims for the direct monetary losses or property damage incurred as a result of their crime were matched on 28 variables to a group of 179 offenders who were not ordered to pay restitution to their victims. Compared to those not ordered to repay their victims, the offenders ordered to pay restitution had a more difficult probation experience, having more revocations filed against them and showing a greater frequency of reporting, physical health, and money problems. No difference in arrest rate or time on probation was discovered. Those offenders ordered to pay restitution but who did not pay in full had the greatest problems of all, showing the highest revocation filing and actual revocation rate, rate of convictions, and time served. Payment characteristics were described for offenders who paid all, part, or none of their restitution debt by probation's end. It was suggested that closer probation officer scrutiny of offenders ordered to pay restitution may have accounted for the more difficult experience of the restitution group and that cost of administration of restitution programs may not be worth the benefits.This research was funded in part by grant No. 76-ED-99-0027 from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. Special thanks are given the directors of Denver District Court Probation, without whose permission to enter the probation archives, and without whose day-to-day cooperation, this study would have been impossible.