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Biomedical subjects

S Pollak

Publications and source records attributed to S Pollak.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Morphologic patterns in suicidal stab injuries of the neck].

Stabs into the neck are seen very seldom in connection with suicide. If there are features typical of suicide, the medico-legal analysis of the pathomorphological findings essentially may contribute to the differentiation from homicidal injuries. On the basis of the observations already published and three own cases an attempt is made to derive criteria of self-infliction for differential diagnosis from the autopsy findings. Concomitant injuries and combination with another method of suicide have turned out to be important indications of self-infliction.

Autopsy↗
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[Suicidal administration of elemental arsenic].

A case of suicidal arsenic poisoning with predominantly gastrointestinal symptomatology is reported. According to his own statement, a student of chemistry had taken in 30 g of metallic arsenic. During the following period he suffered from frequent vomiting and excessive diarrhoea. Approximately 15 hours after the oral application he sought for medical help and was brought into a hospital. Despite of gastric lavage with carbo animalis, hemodialysis, and BAL as antidote the patient died after a survival time of altogether 48 hours. By means of x-ray fluorescence analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry 350 mg of arsenic could be detected in the gastric fluid of the corpse; x-ray diffractometric analysis actually proved the presence of elemental arsenic. Nevertheless it can't be excluded that the metallic form was contaminated with arsenic oxides. The paper presents the clinical course, the analytical data, and the postmortem findings.

Adult↗
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[Pistols and revolvers as striking tools].

Hand firearms and blank-cartridge arms may not only be used to fire cartridges, but also as blunt-edged tools. When used for striking the human body, they produce corresponding injuries (abrasions, hematomata, lacerations, fractures). The blows are preferably to the victim's head. The hands may show characteristic protective wounds. Impact of the pistol grip (or butt of the revolver) may cause typically shaped skin lesions and depressed fractures. Three cases of homicide are presented in order to show and discuss the morphological features of such injury patterns.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Drugs as markers in identification. Detection of melperon (Buronil) in an adipoceratous corpse].

The body of a 76-year old female pensioner was recovered from the Danube as adipoceratous torso after the person had been missing for almost two years. Identification first of all based on comparing postmortem and radiological findings which revealed correspondence of numerous features. The missing woman had been receiving long-term drug therapy of melperone (active substance of the neuroleptic Buronil) in doses of 25 mg three times daily. Combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry succeeded in detecting the characteristic mass fragment of melperone in the adipoceratously transformed bone marrow of the water-logged corpse; in the remaining soft tissues outside the bones the concentration was below detection range. The reported case exemplifies that demonstration of low drug levels resulting from therapeutic ingestion can contribute to the identification of extensively decomposed bodies and to the correct relating of severed parts.

Adipose Tissue↗
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[Pattern of findings in injuries caused by "survival knives"].

Survival knives are designed as multi-purpose tools. Most models have a broad single-edged fixed blade, like a trail-knife or Bowie-knife. The back of the blade normally has saw teeth set either in single line or double crossed line. This adds a third function, sawing, to the two standard functions of the knife (stabbing and cutting). The saw edge leaves characteristic scrape marks on the skin; bony structures are grooved or completely severed. A case of homicide is taken to demonstrate that the pattern of injuries may indicate the use of a survival knife.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Maggot-induced postmortem changes simulating gunshot wounds].

In the warm season, human cadavers often are the breeding ground of fly larvae. In special conditions, the damage by maggots can take on the appearance of bullet holes. Preexisting injuries allow the maggots to penetrate the skin also in parts other than the body apertures commonly infested. Round tissue damage similar to gunshot-wounds are favored by the fact that the larvae of some types of flies bundle together to form feeding communities. The enzymes from the salivary glands of the fly larvae may in some rare instances even lead to perforation of bone lamellae (e.g. in the region of the orbital roofs). The case reports deal with 2 cases in which changes due to damage by maggots primarily gave the impression of gunshot-wounds.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Simulation of an attack by self-mutilating cuts and stab wounds].

Self-inflicted cut or stab wounds may be used by the injured to make credible a feigned assault. In such cases the alleged traces of the crime are found on the body and the clothing of the informant. Occasionally the very pattern of the injuries points to self-infliction. For example the following findings may be indicative of self-infliction: a greater number of very superficial wounds, wounds parallel or grouped, mostly located on the left side of the body (in right-handers) or symmetry in arrangement, intact clothing or lack of correspondence between wounds and damage of clothing, absence of typical defence and protection injuries. In the light of 4 cases observed from the material at hand, special features of the lesion appearance are shown and possible motives for the deed discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Deviations in findings in hanging by interposition of fingers between noose and neck].

Fingers wedged between loop and neck produce a characteristic modification of the morphological pattern: in the area where the ligature mark is interrupted there are vertical or oblique impressions, of the width of a finger, that tend to brown-dry only to a slight degree. Between these impressions are ridged strips with ecchymoses and/or blisters filled with serous fluid. The interposed fingers themselves may show vesiculose raised epidermis distally from the ligature groove. The paper demonstrates the macround microscopical findings in 5 cases. In 3 of the 5 cases there was a high degree of intoxication, so that it cannot be ruled out that these suicides, because of staggering, fell into the noose when still engaged in preparing the suspension.

Adult↗
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[Findings in intermediate ridges of strangulation marks and their value as signs of vitality].

Ecchymotic skin ridges, which are frequently found between the ligature turns in cases of dual or multiple loop ligature indicate to many authors hanging in life. Our examinations on an unselected group of corpses have led to the result that extravasations on the ridges between the ligature turns can be produced many hours after death, even outside the hypostatic area. In the case of prolonged suspension, small sub- and intra-epidermal blisters filled with serous fluid and fat may form on wide ridged strips between the ligature turns; the cells of the raised epidermis show significant large fat vacuoles. The bullous changes of the skin as well as the ridge ecchymoses can easily be reproduced in post mortem experiments. Therefore, both results cannot prove ante-mortem hanging. The paper presents four cases of suicidal hanging with vesication on the ridge between the ligature turns.

Adult↗
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[Recoil-induced rifle butt mark on the ceiling in suicidal gunshot injury].

In a suicide case the butt of the weapon (double-barrelled shotgun) produced a characteristically shaped mark at the ceiling, which could be physically explained by the recoil effect and was a clue that the victim had fired the shot himself. The ammunition used was a cartridge with a rifled shotgun slug (Brenneke type). The contact shot into the temple resulted in the rupture of the skull with exenteration of the brain. As the weapon remained lying on the body of the suicide after the shot, brownish traces of rust could form at the places of contact with steel parts.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fatal gunshot wound injuries with so-called shooting ball-point pens].

Report on two suicides using shooting ball-point pens (with .22 lr and .22 lr Hv cartridges respectively). Both cases were contact shots (in the first case in the area of the right ear, in the second case in the left temple). Corresponding to the configuration of the barrel end, the muzzle imprints were uncharacteristic (ring-shaped and narrow). The other morphological findings of the wounds did not differ from the injuries inflicted by conventional small-bore weapons.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Double suicidal gunshots with submental and parietal gunshot sites].

An 81-year-old suicide killed himself with two contact shots from a Walther PP pistol (cal. 7.65 mm Browning). The first entrance site was located under the chin, the second on the top of the head. The primary submental shot went through the facial part of the skull exclusively, the subsequent parietal shot interspersed central parts of the brain. The sequence of the shots could be identified by means of the different severity of the injuries and its effect on the ability of the person to act on the one hand and the pattern of the blood traces on the other hand. When the body was found, the suicide held the weapon in his right hand, which was stiff from rigor mortis. On the basis of the case presented and the literature available the criminological aspects of suicidal shots on the top of the head and multiple gunshot wounds are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Manifestations of screwdriver injuries].

Report on three homicides, in which apart from other kinds of mechanical traumas there were also injuries due to stabs with a screwdriver; in one case a screwdriver with a cross-shaped tip was used; in the two other cases the weapon was a regular blade screwdriver with a single-edged tip. Supplementing the systematic studies by Brinkmann and Kleiber (Arch. Kriminol. 161, 31-40 [1978]) several other findings concerning screwdriver injuries are reported; non-penetrating impact lesions of the skin with contusion of the underlying subcutis, reddish streaks consisting of intracutaneous hemorrhages in the width of the screwdriver tip (after tangential slipping), bone lesions typical of the tool. If certain locations are hit (e.g. the region of the ear) piercing injuries are also possible. Injuries of the hands show that the victim tried to defend himself and that the stab was inflicted while the victim was still able to act.

Adult↗