Forensic Histopathology

In the literature, there is no comprehensive survey and assessment of the histology of natural and unnatural injuries to humans that has been scien tifically researched and practically examined from the point of view offo rensic medicine. Even today, an analysis of the international literature shows that the significance of histology in medicolegal examinations has not hitherto been systematically presented in the English language. Above all, there is a lack of a critical appraisal of the evidence value of histology and its significance within the scope of concrete forensic determinations. In the present volume, I have attempted to rectify this situation and thus bridge the prevailing gap in the literature. It is not, however, intended that a new area of histology be established as an independent discipline within forensic medicine. Rather, those facilities of histology will be emphasized that should be considered by scientists in forensic practice. There are of course older and more recent studies on branches of the subject (Kasianow 1954; Gerin 1965; Raekallio 1965,1970; Pioch 1966; Berg 1972; Benecke 1972; Perper and Wecht 1980). Otherwise, isolated histological examination findings on organ and tissue damage have been dealt with in old and new standard works on forensic medicine (Hofmann and Haberda, von Neureiter, Walcher, Pons old, Mueller, Popielski and Kobiela, Prokop, Poulsen, Tedeschi et aI. , Uotila, Gresham).

A. Introduction.- I. Subject-matter and Functions of Forensic Histology.- II. Histological Investigatory Findings as Forensic Evidence.- III. Collection of Data and Examination Technique.- B. General Section.- I. Postmortem Changes (Histothanatology).- 1. Autolysis and Putrefaction.- General.- Specific Cell and Organ Findings.- 2. Histological Determination of the Time of Death.- 3. Histological Examination of Exhumed Corpses.- II. Vital Reactions.- 1. Hemorrhages.- Origin, Histomorphology, and Degradation.- Postmortem Changes.- 2. Mechanically Caused Tissue Damage.- Mode of Origin and Histomorphology.- Wound Healing.- Age Determination of Lesions and Hemorrhages.- 3. Thromboses and Embolisms.- Stratified and Agglutinative Thromboses - Thromboembolism.- Fat Embolisms.- Air Embolisms.- Amniotic Embolisms.- Tissue and Foreign-Body Embolisms.- 4. Aspirations.- III. Oxygen Deficiency.- 1. General, Localized Oxygen Deficiency.- 2. Specific Cell and Organ Findings.- IV. Shock.- 1. Fundamentals and General Histomorphology.- 2. Specific Organ Findings in Shock.- 3. Allergies.- V. Histological Contribution Toward Identification.- 1. Determination of Type and Organ.- 2. Individual Characteristics.- C. Special Section.- I. Sudden Death from Natural Causes.- 1. Preliminary Note.- 2. Diagnostic Problems.- II. Pregnancy - Abortion - Aborticide (Forensic Gynecology).- 1. Pregnancy - Death of the Mother.- 2. Miscarriage - Abortion.- 3. Aborticide and Perinatal Death.- The Problem of Live or Still Birth.- The Problem of the Cause of Death.- III. Injuries Caused by Atmospheric Effects.- IV. Strangulation: Hanging - Choking - Throttling.- 1. General.- 2. Findings in the Neck.- 3. Consequences to the Inner Organs.- V. Drowning - Changes to Corpses Found in Water.- 1. Changes in Water.- 2. Histological Contribution to the Diagnosis of Death by Drowning.- VI. Injuries Caused by Heat and Cold.- 1. Local and General Heat Injuries - Burned Corpses.- Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Lesions.- General Heat Injuries.- Burned Corpses.- 2. General Heat Damage - Heat Death.- 3. Death from Hypothermia.- VII. Injuries Caused by Electricity.- 1. General.- 2. Electric Lesions - Burns Caused by Heat.- 3. Inner Organs.- VIII. Injuries Caused by Radiation and Ultrasound.- 1. General.- 2. Early and Delayed Cell and Organ Damage.- 3. Injuries Caused by Ultrasound.- IX. Histological Findings in Starvation.- 1. General Remarks on Cause and Definition.- 2. Organ and Tissue Findings.- X. Histological Contribution to the Investigation of Gunshot Wounds.- XI. Histological Findings in Poisoning.- 1. Preliminary Note.- 2. Specific Histomorphology in Poisoning.- Inorganic Toxins.- Organic Toxins.- D. References.- E. Subject Index.