Showing papers in "Medicine Science and The Law in 1972"

Inhalation Toxicology and Pathology of Animals Exposed to o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile (CS):

Abstract: O C H L O R O B E N Z Y L I D E N E malononitrile ( C S ) , first described by Corson and Stoughton (1928), was introduced in 1958 as the active constituent of a riot control device to replace chloracetophenone ( C N , C A P ) on the grounds that it was more effective and safer when used in the open air (British Patent 967,660, 1964). T h e original British estimates o f the safety of C S were based on studies in which con­ centrations of pyrotechnically-generated smoke, 100 or more times greater than those which might be expected from the function­ ing of C S grenades in the open air, did not kill animals exposed for 30 minutes (British Patent 967,660, 1964). Pathological changes were not observed in the animals which were subsequently autopsied. As a result of a toxicological study by Punte, Weimer , Ball­ ard, and Wild ing (1962), in which average dose levels required to kill 5 species of animal were determined, it was concluded that ' C S is a potent sternutator and lachrymator with a higher ratio between the lethal and irritating airborne concentrations in animals than any previously known agent of this type '. In a parallel investigation into

Fatal subarachnoid haemorrhage associated with cervical trauma.

Abstract: Four cases of death from traumatic vertebral artery haemorrhage have been described. In all cases death ensued rapidly after a blow to the side of the upper neck had been inflicted. High blood-alco...

Compulsory psychiatric admission by the police. A study of the use of section 136.

Abstract: The case notes of 92 police admissions (under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1959) were examined in detail and comparisons were made with formal admissions by medical practitioners to the same unit (208 under section 29 and 56 under section 25) and also with the admissions of previous years. It was found that the police were as efficient at recognizing persons in need of psychiatric care among those called to their attention as were the medical practitioners who were not approved psychiatrists. Attention is drawn to the tendency of some individuals to be repeatedly admitted by the police. Suggestions are made as to their better management.

Toxicity and distribution of free cyanides given intramuscularly.

Abstract: T H E acute intramuscular LDgo for K C N to adult male and female rabbits and for H C N to adult male rabbits is similar around 50 μmole per kg., but the LD50 for H C N to adult female rabbits is significantly lower at 35 μmolc per kg. There was a clear relation­ ship between the amount of H C N Injected and both time to the appearance of the first signs of poisoning and time to death, but such a relationship was much less obvious with K C N . There were no post-mortem features specific for cyanide poisoning. T h e highest post-mortem concentrations of cyan­ ide were measured in anticoagulated blood and sei^m, but whole blood values were significantly greater than serum values. T h e concentrations of cyanide in whole blood and serum from HCN-poisoned animals were significantly higher than in blood and serum from KCN-poisoned animals. There was generally no difference in the concentration of cyanide in muscle, kidney, liver, and central nervous tissue removed from H C N poisoned animals compared with the

Racial characteristics in forensic dentistry.

Abstract: I N T R O D U C T I O N T H E iden t i f i ca t ion of u n k n o w n bod ie s forms a m a j o r p a r t o f t h e w o r k of a forensic den t i s t . A def in i te iden t i f i ca t ion is m a d e b y c o m p a r i ­ son o f t h e d e n t i t i o n of a b o d y w i t h t h e d e n t a l r e c o r d s of a mis s ing p e r s o n . Before t h a t s t age c a n b e r e a c h e d , h o w e v e r , t h e d e n t a l r e c o r d s of t h e miss ing p e r s o n m u s t b e found . W h e n t h e r e is s o m e i n d i c a t i o n of t h e poss ib le i d e n t i t y of t h e b o d y , th is is a r e l a t ive ly easy task. W h e n t h e r e is n o i n d i c a t i o n of t h e poss ib le i d e n t i t y o f t h e b o d y , a n y c lue as to its o r ig in m a y b e m o s t useful, a n d this i nc ludes t h e r a c e of t h e b o d y . I n a severe ly d e c o m p o s e d b o d y , s u c h as o n e t h a t h a s b e e n in t h e sea for s o m e t i m e , t h e r e m a y b e l i t t l e e v i d e n c e as t o t h e r a c e o t h e r t h a n t h a t g i v e n b y t h e b o n e s a n d t h e t e e t h . T h e i nc rea se in i n t e r n a t i o n a l traffic h a s b e e n fo l lowed b y a n i n c r e a s e i n a c c i d e n t s i n w h i c h v i c t i m s of d i f ferent o r ig ins a r e t r a v e l l i n g t o g e t h e r . I n s u c h cases i t is s o m e t i m e s of g r e a t a d v a n t a g e to b e a b l e to r e c o g n i z e m e m b e r s of d i f ferent r aces . T h i s is p a r t i c u l a r l y so i n cases of ex tens ive m u t i l a t i o n o f b o d i e s i n a i r a c c i d e n t s (Gus ta fson , 1966).

Cot deaths--why not the heart?

Abstract: Progressive fibrosis with remoulding of the penetrating part of the His bundle has been found in the hearts of 47 infants dying suddenly. It is suggested that these changes may interfere with condu...

Is it possible to identify individuals by neutron activation analysis of hair? Failure of a mission.

Abstract: NEUTRON activation analysis was introduced by G. de Hevesy, in 1936. It was applied for the first time in France for forensic purposes, in 1951, by H. Griffon and J . Barbaud ( i 9 5 1 ) , in a desperate eflfort to bring the unfortunate Marie Besnard case to a satisfactory issue. The two experts were vigorously criticized in court by the defence and Joliot-Curie, who had been called in belatedly, fared no better (Savel, 1963). Marie Besnard was finally acquitted in 1961, after 5 years of preventive imprisonment and 3 successive trials. Neutron activation analysis was brought to remarkable perfection later on by successive researchers and a time even came when American chemists optimistically thought it would provide the solution to a number of delicate investigations (Jervis, 1967). This, unfortunately, turned out seldom to be the case and disenchantment was to follow. Neutron activation analysis is based on the principle that when materials are irradiated in a nuclear reactor or in another neutron source, some of the atoms present are converted into radioactive isotopes. T h e type and energy of the radiation, and the decay

Why have some victims of death from cold undressed

Abstract: Victims of death from cold are sometimes found completely or partially undressed without any signs of crime. In connexion with a report of 2 such cases, the possible causes of the undressing of the individuals are made the subject of discussion, which is based upon the literature available. One of the hypotheses is that exposure to severe cold—paradoxically enough—may cause a feeling of warmth in the skin.

On the possible relationship between diarrhoea and o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS).

Abstract: Several species of animal were given single doses of CS, dissolved in polyethylene glycol 300, by stomach tube and their stools subsequently examined for consistency. Wet stool production was seen infrequently, and occurred in both CS-treated animals and controls receiving the solvent alone. In another group of animals given 5 consecutive daily doses of CS by stomach tube, only 4 out of 21 animals had minimal lesions of the gastric mucosa, but there was no evidence of an irritant effect on the intestine. Furthermore, the repeated dosing of animals with CS did not cause detectable lesions in lung, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, or adrenal gland.In a series of inhalation experiments, rabbits exposed to thermally-generated CS did not show any evidence of an increase in the amount of material defaecated or its water content.There is no evidence from the experiments reported here that exposure to CS smokes can cause a diarrhoea-like condition; this is discussed.

Evidence and proof: scientific and legal.

Abstract: T H E words which I have chosen as the title to this address are common to the vocabularies of the three disciplines which together com­ prise this Academy , although the meaning attached to each word varies with the dis­ cipline which uses it. T h e fact that they all use these two words is, however, significant because the common use of such words as evidence ' and ' proof ' implies, despite the apparent diversity of meaning, an underlying activity which is common to all three. In contrast, and no less significant, each discipline uses quite different words to describe the results of its activities. T h e scientist speaks of the ' results ' of his experinients, builds up a ' hypothesis hopefully evolves a ' t h e o r y w h i c h , i f successful may give rise to a new scientific ' f a c t ' and, occasionally, to the formulation of a new scientific ' l a w ' . T h e doctor makes a ' diagnosis ' and proceeds to ' therapy ' or ' t reatment ' . T h e lawyer calls his conclusion an ' opinion ' or an ' advice ', and the foren­ sic process leads to a ' v e rd i c t ' in the case of a jury, or to ' findings of f a c t ' by a judge sitting alone, which in turn leads to a ' sentence ' or a ' j u d g m e n t ' . These words are remarkably precisely chosen and if

The palatability of food exposed to o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS).

Abstract: The possibility that food seriously contaminated with o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) might be inadvertently swallowed was investigated by exposing a limited range of foodstuffs to CS aeroso...

The Quantitative Assessment of Violence in Adult and Young Offenders

Abstract: The reliability and validity of a method of estimating violent behaviour at an interview is explored and discussed.Methods of studying violent behaviour have tended at one extreme to be by analysis of official statistics and at the other by a non-quantitative casework style of approach to the individual offender. Attempts to measure violent behaviour from interview accounts have been far less frequent and the present paper describes the use of this method in groups of men in prison and boys in Borstal.

Two suicidal transfixions of the neck.

Abstract: ACCORDING to most British textbooks of Forensic Medicine, stabbing of the neck is a rare mode of suicide. Thus, both Smith and Fiddes (1955) and Simpson (1965) des­ cribe suicidal stab wounds of the neck as rare, as do Gonzales, Vance, Helpern, and Umberger (1954). Glaister and Rentoul (1966) describe a single case of a woman dying from a penetrating wound of the heart produced by a hat pin, who also had a stab wound of the neck produced by the same agent; Poison (1965) refers to descriptions by Littlejohn (1925) and by Prevent and Simonin (1940). In view of the apparent scarcity of such cases it was thought worth while to record 2 cases of transfixion of the neck with knives, apparently with suicidal intent, seen recently by the Depar tment of Forensic Medicine at Leeds.

Pollution of the air.

Abstract: I N T R O D U C T I O N ALTHOUGH i t is on ly i n r e c e n t y e a r s t h a t t h e sub jec t of a i r p o l l u t i o n h a s b e c o m e of u n i v e r s a l in t e res t , p o l l u t i o n b y coa l s m o k e h a s b e e n a se r ious p r o b l e m in u r b a n a r e a s of G r e a t B r i t a i n for severa l c en tu r i e s . T h e d i a r i s t E v e l y n (1661) in his f a m o u s d i scourse Fumifugium d e s c r i b e d v iv id ly t h e effects of L o n d o n s m o k e o n b u i l d i n g s , fabr ics , c rops , a n d h e a l t h , a n d h e c o n s i d e r e d t h a t : ' t h e i n h a b i t a n t s b r e a t h e n o t h i n g b u t a n i m p u r e mis t , a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h a fu l ig inous a n d filthy v a p o u r , w h i c h r e n d e r s t h e m o b n o x i o u s to a t h o u s a n d i n c o n v e n i e n c e s , c o r r u p t i n g t h e lungs , a n d d i s o r d e r i n g t h e e n t i r e h a b i t of t h e i r b o d i e s ; so t h a t c a t h a r r s , ph th i s i cks , c o u g h s a n d c o n s u m p t i o n s , r a g e m o r e i n this o n e C i t y t h a n i n t h e w h o l e E a r t h bes ides . ' L o n d o n w a s i n d e e d a n u n h e a l t h y c i ty a t t h a t t i m e , b u t t h e phys i c i ans d i d n o t a g r e e w i t h E v e l y n i n b l a m i n g p o l l u t i o n . T h e causes of d e a t h r e c o r d e d i n t h e e a r l y Bills of M o r t a l i t y ( G r a u n t , 1662) w e r e m a n y a n d v a r i e d , a n d it is un l i ke ly t h a t p o l l u t i o n w a s t h e n a n i m p o r t a n t fac tor in m o r t a l i t y .

Drink, drugs, and delinquency.

Abstract: I N dealing with the relationship of drink, drugs, and other delinquency to Group Violerue and the Toung Generation I am assum­ ing that we are mainly concerned with violence by fairly large groups. All personal violence requires a group of a t least two— unless it is self-destrucdon, and it is well to remember that the accidental or intenUonal suicide rate is exceptionally high in those who take alcohol or drugs excessively. In vio­ lence to others, however, much more emphasis has been placed in the last ten years upon the two-sided nature of violence—that one cannot begin to explain it without considering the expectations, perceptions, and definitions of both parties and of wider social groups as well. A recent study of violence in America, Hans Toch's Violent Men (1972) deals not only with offenders in prison but includes an interesting study of members of the police force who had been assaulted much more often than their colleagues. Clearly, owning or carrying weapons implies certain expectations, whether one is law-abiding or not.

Immediate postoperative death associated with severe laryngeal obstruction.

Abstract: C A S E R E P O R T T H E pa t ient was a 46-year-old housewife who first a t tended the hospital in i960 complaining of dyspnoea and thyroid enlargement. A diagnosis of nodular goitre was made and subtotal thyroid­ ectomy performed. At operation some degree of laryngeal obstruction was observed so that a small tracheostomy tube had to be used. A year later she a t tended again because of increasing dyspnoea and hoarseness. Laryngoscopy showed mobile vocal cords with bilateral subglottic swelling. Biopsy of this swelling showed non-specific sub­ mucosal fibrosis. By 196a her symptoms h a d worsened and, in addit ion, she complained of nasal obstruction associated with collapse of the bridge of her nose. T h e Wassermann reaction was negative and biopsy suggested rhinoscleroma. For the next few years she managed reasonably well though she remained hoarse and breathless on exert ion; but by 1968 these symptoms had worsened considerably and she was referred to T h e London Hospital . Though she was hoarse wi th respiratory stridor a n d dyspnoea on effort, the cords were again mobile. There was con­ siderable subglottic obstruction, however, and much fibrous tissue was removed from the interior of the larynx via a laryngo-fissurc approach. A temporary tracheostomy was performed.

Some Recent Advances in Forensic Serology

Abstract: DOUBTFUL PATERNITY It is proposed first to outline the genetic principles upon which the interpretation of the results of blood grouping in cases of doubtful paternity depends. A more detailed account can be found in Dodd (1969). Blood group inheritance conforms to Mcndclian laws which in relation to blood groups can be staled as follows:— 1 . A blood group gene cannot appear in a child unless present in one or other (or both) parents. 2. If an individual is homozygous for a blood group gene, it must appear in the blood of all his children. Tables I-III show examples of exclusion of paternity based on the first and second laws of

Urban guerrilla warfare in a democratic society.

Abstract: I N selecting a title for this address I felt it was desirable to link it in some way with the subject mat ter of the Annual Scientific Meeting, and at the same time to use the opportunity to address members of this Academy, the British Academy of Forensic Sciences, on some issue of interest to a broad spectrum of our membership. T h e subject I have chosen is one which I believe must be of concern to all our members and all society. I have divided my address into four sections: violence in society, the emergence of the urban guerrilla, civil disturbances in Northern Ireland, and some implications for the forensic scientist. Collective violence is a phenomenon about which most of us in this country have little knowledge or experience. We think of it as something which only happens to other people in other countries. Many democratic societies, however, are now experiencing violent disorder in varying degrees and I think the fact that tomorrow we are to discuss Group Violence and the Young Generation is symptomatic of the concern which many of us feel at this t ime. In the last three years, deaths from explosions and shooting incidents in Northern

Some twentieth century poison panics.

Abstract: A R S E N I C S C A R E I N S W E D E N DURING t h e first d e c a d e of this c e n t u r y it w a s d i s cove red t h a t m a n y p e o p l e in S w e d e n w e r e e x c r e t i n g sma l l q u a n t i t i e s of a r s en i c in t he i r u r i n e . T h e p u b l i c b e c a m e a l a r m e d , a n d in 1913 t h e g o v e r n m e n t a p p o i n t e d t he S w e d i s h A r s e n i c C o m m i s s i o n , h e a d e d b y D r . K a r l P e t r e n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of L u n d . After six y e a r s of in t ens ive c l in ica l a n d l a b o r a t o r y s t u d y , t h e C o m m i s s i o n issued a 1329 -page r e p o r t p u b l i s h e d in S w e d i s h , c o n t a i n i n g 19 sect ions a u t h o r e d b y v a r i o u s m e m b e r s of t h e C o m m i s s i o n . T h e chief findings w e r e a b ­ s t r a c t e d {Lancet, 1923). T h e C o m m i s s i o n first c o n f i r m e d t h a t u r i n a r y e x c r e t i o n of a r s en i c was v e r y c o m ­ m o n in t h a t c o u n t r y . Af te r r u l i n g o u t v a r i o u s sugges ted a r sen i c sources , s u c h as t he a c t i o n of m o u l d s o n a r sen ica l p i g m e n t s in wa l l ­ p a p e r , l i n o l e u m , o r t apes t r i e s , e t c . , t h e C o m m i s s i o n f o u n d t h a t t h e u r i n a r y a r sen ic c a m e f rom t h e food e a t e n , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e fish p o r t i o n of t h e d i e t . I t w a s t h e n s h o w n t h a t t h e p r i m a r y sou rce of t h e a r sen i c w a s sea w a t e r , w h i c h c o n t a i n s a t r a c e of this c h e m i c a l . T h i s a r s en i c is t h e n

Studies on human blood-stains in the Sudan.

Abstract: Five samples of human blood-stains were stored in a cupboard in the laboratory and tested on 3 occasions, 10 and then 12 years apart. Tests performed included the benzidine test, standard chemical and physical tests, precipitin tests for differentiation of species, and blood grouping.

Choice, chance, and paradox. A brief discussion on human genetic engineering.

Abstract: I N T R O D U C T I O N GENETICISTS c a n n o t h e l p c o m p a r i n g a n d c o n t r a s t i n g a l l l iv ing objec ts t h a t t h e y v i ew w h e t h e r h u m a n , a n i m a l , o r v e g e t a b l e . W h e t h e r in phys i ca l , phys io log ica l , o r p s y c h o ­ logical f ea tu res , p e o p l e , l ike o t h e r l iv ing th ings , s h o w v a r i o u s differences . S o m e ­ t imes t h e differences a r e t r iv ia l . S o m e t i m e s t h e y w i e l d g r e a t c o n s e q u e n c e s , g o o d o r b a d . T h e s e n a t u r a l dif ferences h a v e , of cour se , b e e n n o t i c e d b y t h e g r e a t c o m m e n t a t o r s o n m a n . I t w a s S h a k e s p e a r e , in his usua l m a n n e r of a n t i c i p a t i o n , w h o p e n n e d : ' S t r a n g e is it, t h a t o u r b loods , of co lour , w e i g h t a n d h e a t , p o u r e d al l t o g e t h e r , w o u l d q u i t e c o n f o u n d d i s t i nc t i on , ye t s t a n d off in differences so m i g h t y ' . Before d e l v i n g i n t o free t h o u g h t s o n n a t u r a l di f ferences , it is essent ia l to a v o i d con t rove r sy . I t s h o u l d b e c l e a r t h a t n o