Asphyxia which means "Pulselessness" and is cause due to absence of oxygen amount in a body. The death cause by asphyxia is known as asphyxial deaths. They are Hanging, Strangulation, Suffocation and Drowning.
infanticide are quite common in India because of illiteracy as well as the female child unwanted . Now a days female sexual assault and murder is getting common in north Indian society
Asphyxia which means "Pulselessness" and is cause due to absence of oxygen amount in a body. The death cause by asphyxia is known as asphyxial deaths. They are Hanging, Strangulation, Suffocation and Drowning.
infanticide are quite common in India because of illiteracy as well as the female child unwanted . Now a days female sexual assault and murder is getting common in north Indian society
FORENSIC MEDICINE BOOKS OF
REDDY
GOUTAM BISWAS
MAGENDRAN
OTHERS
TOPICS :-
COLD INJURY
HEAT INJURY
BURN INJURY
SCALDS
ELECTROCUTION
LIGHTENING INJURY
THIS IS ONE OF MY BEST AND FAVORITE PRESENTATIONS. IT WILL SURELY HELP YOU A LOT DURING YOUR EXAMS (PROF/OTHERS). IF YOU FIND IT HELPFUL THEN LIKE IT. MY EMAIL ID IS GIVEN ON THE 2ND PAGE OF THIS PRESENTATION, IF YOU WANT PRESENTATIONS ON OTHER TOPICS (ANY MEDICAL SUBJECTS) THEN MAIL ME. I WILL WORK ON IT LOT AND WILL BE TRYING TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS...
THANK YOU
Regional injuries, types of scalp injuries with details of scalp anatomy, types of skull fractures, coup and counter coup injuries, mechanism of skull fractures.
An account of strangulation, its types, mechanism, causes of death, post-mortom signs of death due to strangulation, fracture of thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone, medico-legal aspects of strangulation
Viscera is an important evidence in forensic toxicology to find out the poison used to kill a person. But how to preserve this viscera?
Read in this ppt!
**Hanging is a form of asphyxia death which is caused by the
suspension of the body by ligature which encircles the neck,
the constricting force being the weight of the body
FORENSIC MEDICINE BOOKS OF
REDDY
GOUTAM BISWAS
MAGENDRAN
OTHERS
TOPICS :-
COLD INJURY
HEAT INJURY
BURN INJURY
SCALDS
ELECTROCUTION
LIGHTENING INJURY
THIS IS ONE OF MY BEST AND FAVORITE PRESENTATIONS. IT WILL SURELY HELP YOU A LOT DURING YOUR EXAMS (PROF/OTHERS). IF YOU FIND IT HELPFUL THEN LIKE IT. MY EMAIL ID IS GIVEN ON THE 2ND PAGE OF THIS PRESENTATION, IF YOU WANT PRESENTATIONS ON OTHER TOPICS (ANY MEDICAL SUBJECTS) THEN MAIL ME. I WILL WORK ON IT LOT AND WILL BE TRYING TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS...
THANK YOU
Regional injuries, types of scalp injuries with details of scalp anatomy, types of skull fractures, coup and counter coup injuries, mechanism of skull fractures.
An account of strangulation, its types, mechanism, causes of death, post-mortom signs of death due to strangulation, fracture of thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone, medico-legal aspects of strangulation
Viscera is an important evidence in forensic toxicology to find out the poison used to kill a person. But how to preserve this viscera?
Read in this ppt!
**Hanging is a form of asphyxia death which is caused by the
suspension of the body by ligature which encircles the neck,
the constricting force being the weight of the body
strangulation forensic medicine important.pptxlyuwablue
Our Age Forensic Medicine product is designed to assist medical professionals in accurately determining the age of individuals based on various biological markers. This tool is essential in forensic investigations, helping to provide crucial information for legal proceedings and identification purposes. With advanced technology and precise algorithms, our Age Forensic Medicine product ensures reliable and accurate results, making it a valuable asset in forensic science.
this is a short and informative presentation on asphyxia death which my teacher liked a lot.
He appreciated me a lot.
I hope whoever get this presentation find this very useful for your class.
# ppt
# asphyxia
THANK YOU
Asphyxia
Classification of Asphyxia
Mechanical Asphyxia
Mugging/ throttling
Mechanical Asphyxia
Pathological Asphyxia
Toxic or chemical Asphyxia
Environmental Asphyxia
Traumatic Asphyxia
Positional/postural Asphyxia
Iatrogenic Asphyxia
Tardieu’s or Bayard’s ecchymosis/spots
Hanging
Classification of Hanging
Cause of Death in Hanging
Fatal period in Hanging
Factors which influence the appearance of ligature mark ??
Judicial Hanging
Hangman’s fracture
Strangulation
ligature strangulation
Cause of death
Throttling or Manual Strangulation
Hyoid Bone Fractures
AUTOEROTIC
CHEMICAL Asphyxia
CHOKING
SMOTHERING Asphyxia
POSITIONAL Asphyxia
Drowning
Classification of Drowning
Typical or wet drowning
Mechanism of fresh water drowning
Mechanism of death in fresh water drowning
Mechanism of sea water drowning
Mechanism of death in sea water drowning
Atypical drowning
Dry drowning
Immersion syndrome
Near drowning
Shallow water drowning
Epidemiology of drowning
Cause of Death
Postmortem Examination
Froth
Reference
A POWER POINT PRESENTATION BY DR.SANGEETA CHOWDHRY & DR.SUNIL SHARMA, DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE & TOXICOLOGY, GOVT. MEDICAL COLLEGE, JAMMU (JAMMU AND KASHMIR)
Details about asphyxia and all types of asphyxial deaths. Details about mechanism of hanging, strangulation, suffocation. Details of traumatic asphyxia. Detailed description of drowning deaths.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE.pdfAnujkumaranit
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. It encompasses tasks such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding. AI technologies are revolutionizing various fields, from healthcare to finance, by enabling machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Title: Sense of Taste
Presenter: Dr. Faiza, Assistant Professor of Physiology
Qualifications:
MBBS (Best Graduate, AIMC Lahore)
FCPS Physiology
ICMT, CHPE, DHPE (STMU)
MPH (GC University, Faisalabad)
MBA (Virtual University of Pakistan)
Learning Objectives:
Describe the structure and function of taste buds.
Describe the relationship between the taste threshold and taste index of common substances.
Explain the chemical basis and signal transduction of taste perception for each type of primary taste sensation.
Recognize different abnormalities of taste perception and their causes.
Key Topics:
Significance of Taste Sensation:
Differentiation between pleasant and harmful food
Influence on behavior
Selection of food based on metabolic needs
Receptors of Taste:
Taste buds on the tongue
Influence of sense of smell, texture of food, and pain stimulation (e.g., by pepper)
Primary and Secondary Taste Sensations:
Primary taste sensations: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami
Chemical basis and signal transduction mechanisms for each taste
Taste Threshold and Index:
Taste threshold values for Sweet (sucrose), Salty (NaCl), Sour (HCl), and Bitter (Quinine)
Taste index relationship: Inversely proportional to taste threshold
Taste Blindness:
Inability to taste certain substances, particularly thiourea compounds
Example: Phenylthiocarbamide
Structure and Function of Taste Buds:
Composition: Epithelial cells, Sustentacular/Supporting cells, Taste cells, Basal cells
Features: Taste pores, Taste hairs/microvilli, and Taste nerve fibers
Location of Taste Buds:
Found in papillae of the tongue (Fungiform, Circumvallate, Foliate)
Also present on the palate, tonsillar pillars, epiglottis, and proximal esophagus
Mechanism of Taste Stimulation:
Interaction of taste substances with receptors on microvilli
Signal transduction pathways for Umami, Sweet, Bitter, Sour, and Salty tastes
Taste Sensitivity and Adaptation:
Decrease in sensitivity with age
Rapid adaptation of taste sensation
Role of Saliva in Taste:
Dissolution of tastants to reach receptors
Washing away the stimulus
Taste Preferences and Aversions:
Mechanisms behind taste preference and aversion
Influence of receptors and neural pathways
Impact of Sensory Nerve Damage:
Degeneration of taste buds if the sensory nerve fiber is cut
Abnormalities of Taste Detection:
Conditions: Ageusia, Hypogeusia, Dysgeusia (parageusia)
Causes: Nerve damage, neurological disorders, infections, poor oral hygiene, adverse drug effects, deficiencies, aging, tobacco use, altered neurotransmitter levels
Neurotransmitters and Taste Threshold:
Effects of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) on taste sensitivity
Supertasters:
25% of the population with heightened sensitivity to taste, especially bitterness
Increased number of fungiform papillae
Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), or beverage alcohol, is a two-carbon alcohol
that is rapidly distributed in the body and brain. Ethanol alters many
neurochemical systems and has rewarding and addictive properties. It
is the oldest recreational drug and likely contributes to more morbidity,
mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined. The
5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) integrates alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into a single
disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD), with mild, moderate,
and severe subclassifications (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
In the DSM-5, all types of substance abuse and dependence have been
combined into a single substance use disorder (SUD) on a continuum
from mild to severe. A diagnosis of AUD requires that at least two of
the 11 DSM-5 behaviors be present within a 12-month period (mild
AUD: 2–3 criteria; moderate AUD: 4–5 criteria; severe AUD: 6–11 criteria).
The four main behavioral effects of AUD are impaired control over
drinking, negative social consequences, risky use, and altered physiological
effects (tolerance, withdrawal). This chapter presents an overview
of the prevalence and harmful consequences of AUD in the U.S.,
the systemic nature of the disease, neurocircuitry and stages of AUD,
comorbidities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, genetic risk factors, and
pharmacotherapies for AUD.
Prix Galien International 2024 Forum ProgramLevi Shapiro
June 20, 2024, Prix Galien International and Jerusalem Ethics Forum in ROME. Detailed agenda including panels:
- ADVANCES IN CARDIOLOGY: A NEW PARADIGM IS COMING
- WOMEN’S HEALTH: FERTILITY PRESERVATION
- WHAT’S NEW IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS,
ONCOLOGICAL AND INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISEASES?
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ETHICS
- GENE THERAPY
- BEYOND BORDERS: GLOBAL INITIATIVES FOR DEMOCRATIZING LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROMOTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
- ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN LIFE SCIENCES
- Prix Galien International Awards Ceremony
Anti ulcer drugs and their Advance pharmacology ||
Anti-ulcer drugs are medications used to prevent and treat ulcers in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers). These ulcers are often caused by an imbalance between stomach acid and the mucosal lining, which protects the stomach lining.
||Scope: Overview of various classes of anti-ulcer drugs, their mechanisms of action, indications, side effects, and clinical considerations.
MANAGEMENT OF ATRIOVENTRICULAR CONDUCTION BLOCK.pdfJim Jacob Roy
Cardiac conduction defects can occur due to various causes.
Atrioventricular conduction blocks ( AV blocks ) are classified into 3 types.
This document describes the acute management of AV block.
1. Pad.Dr.D.Y.Pat il Homoeopat hic Medical College
and Resear ch inst it ut e, Bhosar i.
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Death from
Asphyxia
2. ASPHYXIA
It is a condition that if oxygen supply to the
blood and tissues is reduced because of
interference with respiration,it is also called
AnoxiaAnoxaemiaHypoxia.
3. Causes of asphyxia
Obstruction to the air passages due to
hanging, strangulation or throttling.
Causes of external respiratory orifices, as in
smothering.
Occlusion of the air passages within as in
drowning or laryngeal spasm.
Pressure on the chest, as in traumatic
asphyxia
4. Inhalation of irrespirable gases like carbon
monoxide.
Spasm of the respiratory muscles,as in
strychnine poisoning.
Paralysis of the respiratory center,as by
narcotics and anesthetics.
Obstruction to the upper respiratory passage
in cases of angioneurotic oedema.
5. Features of asphyxia
Cyanosis,capillary dilatation,capillary
stasis,rise of capillary pressure.
Increased capillary permeability, Tardieu’s
spots and relaxation of sphincters.
8. Hanging
Hanging is a form of asphyxial death which is
caused by the suspension of the body by
ligature which encircles the neck,the
constricting force being the weight of the
body.
10. Complete hanging
When feet do not touch the ground and the
weight of the body acts as a constricting
force.
Partial hanging
When the weight of the head and not the
whole body acts as a constricting force is
known as partial hanging.
11. Typical hanging
The ligature is situated in the midline above
the thyroid cartilage and runs symmetrically
upwards on both sides of the neck to the
occipital region.
Atypical hanging
Any variation of this standard position.
12.
13. Ligature
Not particular, like ropes, chains,wire,leather
straps,belts,scarf,dhoti,sarees etc.
Its important to match the ligature with the
ligature mark and see if its strong enough to
bear the weight and jerk of the body.
Cut the ligature away from the knot.
14. Symptoms
So rapid that they are rarely observed.
Flashes of lights before the eyes, ringing in the
ears.
Unconsciousness and death.
The individual can do nothing to help himself
even if it were possible.
Respiration stops before the heart which may
continue for 10-15min.
15. Causes of death
Asphyxia
Ligature forces the tongue up and occludes
air,15kg tension occludes the trachea.
Cerebral congestion
Obstruction of jugular veins by compression
with 2kg wt tension.
16. Cerebral anoxia
Carotid artery occludes with 4-5kgs tension
and vertebral artery with 20kgs tension.
Reflex vagal inhibition.
Fracture dislocation of cervical spine t the
level of 2,3,and 4 vertebrae.
Combination of any of the above.
18. Above the ligature mark
Tilt of the head.
Protrusion of tongue.
Dribbling of saliva.
Le Facia Sympathique.
Tardieu spots.
Congestion of the face.
Petecheal haemorrhages.
Middle ear haemorrhages.
19. Beneath the ligature
Fixed or running noose.
Position of the knot.
Course of the ligature.
Width and multiplicity.
Point of suspension.
Slipping of ligature.
Weight of the body.
20. Below the ligature
Postmortem lividity (Glove and Stocking)
Relaxation of sphincters.
Injury to legs.(partial hanging)
21. Internal appearance
Haemorrhages in the neck.
Dry,white and glistening.
Rupture of platysma and sternomastoid.
Transverse tear in the intima of carotid artery.
Fracture of hyoid,cricoid and thyroid
cartilages.
Congestion of organs.
Petechial haemorrhages.
22. Diagnosis
Ligature mark around the neck.
Presence of abrasions,echymosis and
redness around the ligature mark.
Trickling saliva from the mouth.
Echymosis of larynx and trachea.
Rupture of intima of carotids.
Signs of asphyxia.
23. Medico-Legal Aspects
Was the death due to hanging?
Whether hanging was suicidal,homicidal or
accidental?
Typical oblique,non-continuous,high up
ligature mark.
Abrasions and echymosis above and below
the ligature mark.
Extravasation-tear of the intima of the
carotids.
Saliva and signs of asphyxia.
24. Suicidal
Usually full suspension.
Ligature tied to beam,hook,fan,tree etc.
Suspension without any platform is unusual in
suicide.
Occasional nail mark-may be self inflicted
while trying to free himherself.
Suicidal note.
25.
26. Homicidal
Extremely rare,except in case of lynching.
Difficult,unless the victim is unconscious by
injury or by drugs.
Marks of violence may be seen on the body.
27.
28.
29. Postmortem
hangingSuspension
Person murdered and the dead body
suspended to simulate suicide.
Usually the rope is tied first to the neck and
then around the beamhook where beam
shows evidence of rope being pulled from
below upwards.
Ligature mark may be produced if the body
is suspended within 2hrs after death.
30. Judicial hanging
Drop of 5-7meters.
Fracture dislocation at cervical 2-3 or 3-4.
Transection of spinal cord.
Tear of intima of carotid artery.
Injury to pons and medulla
31. Strangulation
It’s a form of asphyxial death caused by the
constriction of neck by ligature or by any
means without suspending the body.
By ligature.
Manual strangulation
Or
Throttling.
32. Causes of death
Asphyxia
Anoxia
Congestion
Vagal inhibition
Combination of any of the above
33. Autopsy finding
Externally-usually those of asphyxia.
Ligature mark
Well defined, slightly depressed at any
level on the neck-usually at the level of
thyroid cartilage or below.
Encircles the neck transversely-more
prominently at the front than the sides.
It may be interrupted by clothing or
victims finger or ornaments.
May be oblique if the victim is sitting and
assailant is standing.
34. Fold marks on neck
Seen in infants and children with short neck.
Tight collar may produce a mark similar.
Examination of ligature-for blood,fragments
of epidermis,hair or other substances.
Sign of struggle.
35. Internal
Laceration of muscles.
Hyoid bone fracture usually not seen.
Fracture thyroid is more common.
Fracture of cricoid is rare,but if pressure is
used may be seen.
Organs are congested.
36. Medico-Legal aspects
Suicide
Its rare but possible.cord may be used and
twisted with a stick.
Congestion is very prominent because of
slow obstruction.
37. Homicide
Common form of murder-associated with
sexual offences.
Infanticide-by strangulation with umbilical
cord.
Evidence of struggle,surprise attack,under
intoxication,weak personality.
38. Common methods of Homicidal
strangulation
Throttling
Compression of neck by hands.
Bruises produced by tips of fingers.
More force is used than is necessary.
Marks of thumb on one side and fingers on other
side.
Pressure of nails produce cresentic marks with or
without incision,concavities follow anatomical
shape of the nail margin and nails with straight
border give unpredictable results.
Hyoid bone fracture and bruising can be seen with
careful neck dissection.
39. Bansdola
Practiced in north India.
Bamboo or sticks are used.
Garroting
Victim is attacked from behind without warning,
ligature thrown round the neck and tightened.
Mugging
Strangulation by holding the neck in the bend of the
elbow/knee.
40. Accidental Strangulation
Children may get entangled during play.
Infants are strangled in their cots, when the
neck is caught in sidebars.
Alcoholics, epileptics and insane persons are
susceptible for accidental strangulation.
41. Suffocation
It’s a form of asphyxia caused by mechanical
obstruction to air passage due to causes other than
constriction of the neck.
Smothering
It’s a form of asphyxia caused by closure of external
respiratory passage either by hand or other means,
or introduction of foreign materials like cloth or
paper etc.
42. Medico-Legal importance
Suicide
Not possible by hands.
Possible by means of tying polythene bag over the
head/burring the face in mattress.
Creating suffocation in the closed and non-
ventilated rooms.
Homicidal
Possible when victim is incapacitated by
drugs/alcohol , can be smothered.
43. Accidental
Infants/children by weight of clothes etc.
While playing with plastic bags.
In adults-plastic bags for auto erotic exercise as
partial anoxia enhances sexual sensation.
Mothers-during breast feeding.
Postmortem findings.
Asphyxia signs.
Abrasions & bruises around the lips and cheeks.
Injuries on inner side of lips.
44. Gagging
It results from closure of mouth by a cloth or
similar material causing obstruction to the
larynx or force the base of the tongue
against the fauces.
Overlying
Compression of chest to prevent breathing.
Mother infants.
Forceful pressure over the chest.
45. Burking
Method of homicidal smothering.
Practiced by “Burk” and “Hare”
Chocking
Caused by obstruction within air passage.
Usually accidental.
From diseases-Diphtheria, laryngeal spasm,
infection etc.
47. Inward fracture
Seen in throttling-main force is an inward
compression on the hyoid bone.
Fingers squeeze the greater horns towards
each other,due to which the bone may be
fractured and post fragments displaced
inwards.
48. Antero-posterior compression fracture
In case of hanging,the hyoid bone is forced
directly backwards due to which,the
divergence of greater horns is increased
which may fracture with outward
displacement of the posterior small
fragments.
Ligature strangulation,run over accidents.
49. Avulsion fracture
Very rare and is due to over activity of neck
muscles without direct action or injury to
hyoid bone.
Incidence-
Hanging 15-20% above 40yrs age.
Very common in throttling.
50. Diagnosis of throttling
Cutaneous bruising and abrasions.
Extensive bruising with/without rupture of
neck muscles.
Engorgement at/above the constriction.
Fracture of larynx, thyroid cartilage and
hyoid bone.
Cricoids almost exclusively fractured in case
of throttling.
Asphyxia signs.
51. Chocking
Obstruction within the air passages.
Accidental inhalation of food when the victim is
laughing or crying.
Vomited material may be inhaled by a person
under the influence of drink or anesthetic drug.
Large food bolus, piece of meet seeds or fish,
teeth(loose),marbles in children.
From diseases-diphtheria,laryngeal edema,
bronchial growths. Hemorrhages.
53. Café coronary
Impaction of food in the sensitive larynx causes
sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
Healthy intoxicated person in hotel while eating
suddenly turns blue, coughs violently-collapses and
dies.
At autopsy a large food bolus seen in the respiratory
tract-larynx obstructing air passage.
Signs of chocking are absent because of high
blood alcohol which inhibits the gag reflex.
Post-mortem appearance-the foreign body is
embedded in a thick mucus in the trachea.
54. Traumatic asphyxia
Its due to respiratory arrest due to mechanical
fixation of chest so that the respiratory movements
are prevented.
E.g.: Stampede in a theatre or in places where
crowded gatherings are there. Fall of earth-coal
mines, tunneling accidents etc.
Post-mortem appearances
An intense deep purple red colour of the head,
neck and upper part of chest above the level of
constriction.
55. Sexual asphyxias
Partial asphyxia causes cerebral disturbances with
feeling of sexual gratification.
Pressure on carotids/trachea leads to
hallucinations of an erotic nature.
Associated with masochism and transvestitism.
Usually can be seen in young males.
Place-victims own house-bed/bath room.
Padding of neck.
56. Ligature, a running noose, the free end of
which is tied to limb, weight of the body is
used to control the ligature.
Naked, pornographic literature etc.
Its due to retrograde displacement of blood
from superior venacava into subclavian veins
of the head and neck due to sudden
compression of the chest blood does not
enter the upper limbs due to the valves.
57. Blood goes into the valve less veins of the
head & neck causing stasis and
engorgement of the vessels and rupture of
the distal venules and capillaries causing
petecheal hemorrhages.
If patient survives-purple colour gradually
disappears within 14-15 days.
58. Drowning
Drowning is a form of asphyxial death due to
aspiration of fluid into the air passages by
submersion of the body in water or fluid
medium.
Complete submersion not necessary,submersion
of nose and mouth is enough.
60. Atypical Drowning
Conditions in which there is very little or no
inhalation of water or fluid in the air passages.
Dry drowning.
Immersion syndrome(vagal inhibition).
Submersion of the unconscious.
Secondary drowning syndrome/near-
drowning.
61. Typical drowning
Fresh water drowning.
Salt water drowning.
Fresh water drowning
Water cross the alveolar membrane into the
circulation.
Produces marked hypervolaemia.
Red cells swell or burst-hemolysis-liberation of
potassium.
Circulation will suffer 50% dilution within 2-3 min.
62. The heart is submitted to the insult of anoxia,
hypervolaemia,potassium excess and sodium
deficit.
Ventricular fibrillation due to anoxia and potassium
excess within 4-5 min.
Salt water drowning
Marked hyper tonicity of the inhaled water cause
loss of fluid from circulation into the lungs-
fulminating pulmonary edema and progressive
hypovolaemia.
Circulatory shock and cardiac arrest.
63. Atypical drowning
Dry drowning
Intense laryngeal spasm due to entry of water into
nasopharynx and larynx.
Very little water enters into lungs.
Best case for resuscitation.
Immersion syndrome
Due to sudden impact with very cold water and
causes death from cardiac arrest.
Victims are young people with excess of alcohol.
64. It also result from falling or diving with feet or duck
diving by the inexperienced swimmers.
Loss of consciousness instantaneous and death
occurs in few minutes.
Autopsy disclose non of the usual signs of
drowning.
Submersion of the unconscious
Commonly seen if the victim is suffering from
disease like epilepsy, heart diseases and is drunk or
head injury during fall.
65. Ballooning of the lungs may be absent.
Formation of the foam my be negligible.
Complete picture of death by drowning is not
found.
Secondary drowning/near-drowning
Its mainly due to infection from inhalation of
contaminated water.
Lung complications, oxygen lack, tired heart
muscle and cerebral edema.
66. A victim look alert and breathing, may respond to
initial resuscitation.
Late stage-respiratory distress, hypotension and
cardiac arrhythmia may cause death.
67. Vicious cycle of drowning
Deep inspiration
Need for air
Water enters resp.passage
Air driven out of lungs
Cough reflex
68. Medico legal aspects
Whether the death was due to drowning or other
cause?
Length of time the body was in water.
Whether it was accidental/suicidal/homicide?
“Brides of the bath case”
69. Postmortem findings
External findings
Fine froth at the nose and mouth. its white or rarely
blood stained, leather-like, abundant and
increases in amount with compression of the chest.
Rarely the presence of weeds , mud etc in the
tightly clinched hand.
70. Cutis anserina(Goose skin)
Due to spasm of the erector pilae muscles and due
to exposure to cold water at the time of death.
Rarely seen in India.
Skin appears granular and puckered, with hair
standing on the end.
Extremities are mainly affected.
71. The skin of the finger, palms and later the soles of
the feet may be wrinkled, bleached and sodden.
Due to osmotic action of water, on thickened
epidermis.
This immersion changes known as Hands and
Feet of a Washer-Woman.
72. Internal findings
Lungs & respiratory tract:-
Airways filled with froth, sand,weeds etc found in
the water.
Lungs are voluminous, edematous,doughy to feel
with rib markings.
Paltauf’ hemorrhages seen.
C/s:- Oozing out of blood stained frothy fluid and
ballooning of the lungs is known as “Emphysema
Aquosum”.
Wt upto 2 kgs.
73. Watery fluid transudates into pleural cavities during
putrefaction.
Hydrostatic lung:- 2meters depth-20min.
Hemorrhages in the middle ear & mastoid air cells.
Water in the stomach & intestine.
74. Biochemical changes
“Getlers test”
Chloride content in chambers of the heart
normally 600mg/100ml.
Chloride decreases by 50% in fresh water &
increases of 40% in salt water.
Test is of doubtful value in
-Septal defects
-Putrefaction
-Death due to vagal inhibition
-Chloride in water
75. Diatoms
Microscopic unicellular algae present in water.
Silicaceous cell wall which resists acid digestion,heat
and putrefaction.
Size 10-80 microns.
Only a live body with a circulation can transport
diatoms from lungs to the brain or bone marrow.
Isolation- acid digestion of tissue commonly bone
marrow,lung,blood and kidney-centrifugation and
washing.residue is examined under phase contrast
microscopy.