2. Defination
Tattoo marks are designs made by multiple
small puncture wounds made through the dermis layer of
skin with needles or similar penetrating tools
dipped in colouring agents ( dye )
Derived from Polynesian “Ta Tau” = to mark
4. History of tattoo marks
– Tattooing has been practiced for thousands of years with Evidence of it
occurring in the upper Palaeolithic era and from the 11th dynasty of ancient
Egypt.
– Mummified and Preserved remains from the Bronze Age have been found to
– Have tattoos; an example of which was the body of a man whose tattooed
remains were found in 1991 in the Tyrolean Alps.
– The possibility of a tattoo marks may be therapeutic/magical of that era.
5. - Tattoos in Greek and Roman, tattoos being a marker for Salves and criminals.
Although early Christians used tattoos as a secret way of recognizing each other.
- The purpose of tattooing has varied from simple decoration, to a marker of social rank,
criminal and noncriminal group membership, or a particular rite of passage in tribal
communities.
- Tattoos were once found predominantly amongst sailors, soldiers and prostitutes, this
situation has changed with a large number of individuals having tattoos that show
considerable variation in style and content.
- The past few years have seen an increase in the popularity of tattooing in the young
with an estimated 10–16 % of adolescents in Western countries now having tattoos,
compared to 3–9 % of the general population.
7. Permenency of tattoo mark
– Tattoo markes are fairly permanent, and stay life long if the pigments are placed
in the dermis and on the covered part of the body.
– They may fade away:-
– If the pigment is placed in the sub epithelial level
– If these are imprinted on the exposed parts of the body(due to exposure of
sunlight)
– If imprinted on those parts of the body which are subjected to consant friction,
in these cases the markes may fade away by 8-10 years.
9. Removal of tattoo mark
– Surgical operation & skin grafting
– Derma abration
– By local use of corrosive substance like stong acid, strong alkali, etc.
– By electrolysis, which releases and dissolves the pigments to be washed out.
– By applying CO2 snow
– By inflicting burn injury over the area.
10. To reveal latent tattoo marks
– High contrast photography
– Computer image enhancement
– Ultraviolet lamp or infra-red photography
– Tattoo marks on unidentified bodies may be photographed with sharp definition
[this method is of special value in case of bodies recovered from water]
- If the tattoo mark is absolutely invisible or has been removed artificially, the
pigments used to produce then may be detected in the near by lymph gland , by
histological examination.
11. Examination of tattoo marks
– Tattoo markes are to be examined in respet of their,
– Anatomical situation
– Size
– Number
– Colour
– Design etc.
A diagrammatic or photographic representation is of more value.
12. Medical isuues
– The important complication from tattoo marks mainly relate to sepsis, and
transmition of contagious disease, like :
syphilis
leprosy
tuberculosis
hepatitis
AIDS etc.
13. Medico-legal imporatance
– In connection with identification it speaks about:
– Race
– Nationality
– Occupation
– Religion
– Travel
– Language
– Name of the person
– Name of relative, friend, lover etc.
14. Medico-legal importance
– The design of a flover, obscene figure, an idol etc. tell about the mental makeup, desire, inclination,
religion, nationality, occupation and place of travel of the person.
– In case of dead bodies if the tattoo mark appears to have been obliterated or has become invisible
then the pigments can be detected in the nearest lymph glands.
– In decomposed bodies, the invisible marks become prominent on removal of the epidermis.
– Artificial obliteration of tattoo marks is strongly suggestive of attempt to conceal the identity with
criminal background and intent.
– Sometimes, the same design may be imprinted on the identical body parts of different individuals.
15. Case study
– Parts of dismembered bodies may have identifying tattoos Such as the right arm
of the murder victim, James Smith that had a tattoo of two boxers.
– In 1935 he had been Murdered and dismembered, and then dumped at sea
where The arm was ingested by a passing tiger shark.
– The shark Subsequently disgorged the arm after its capture and display
– At an aquarium in Sydney, Australia.
– The putrefied Hand from a murder victim in South Australia was Presumptively
identified by the tattoo of a map of Australia With the word ‘love’.