A total of 65 consecutive cases of suicide by sharp force were investigated by evaluating the autopsy and prosecution department records. Suicides constituted 17% of all fatalities from sharp force autopsied between 1967 and 1996. Young males and persons with a psychiatric history predominated among the persons who chose this "hard" method of suicide. The most common implements used were knives (62%) and razor blades (15%). Cutting injuries in isolation were present in 26, stab injuries in isolation in 24 and a combination of both in 15 fatalities. The number of injuries per case varied from 1 to 37 but 1/3 showed one injury. More than 85% of the cutting injuries were located at the wrist, elbow crease or neck whereas 79% of the stab injuries involved the ventral aspect of the trunk. Perforation of clothing was present in 16 (52%) out of 31 stab injuries to the trunk. Injuries to more than one body region were observed in 34 (52%) cases. Tentative marks were present in 50 (77%) fatalities and the number varied from 1 to 60 per case. Superficial incisions of the fingers were found in 15% with razor blades constituting the weapon in half of these cases. Deviations from these typical patterns occurred not infrequently. The utter determination of the victim to carry it through or the use of unusual weapons resulted in a few bizarre cases which are outlined briefly.

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Cases of suicide from sharp pointed weapons (n = 12) witnessed by one or more persons are reported with regard to the potential for physical activity. One case each involved the ulnar artery, the great saphenous vein and the periphery of the lung and liver and the physical activity following these injuries lasted for several hours. In one case, the left carotid and vertebral arteries were transected and the physical activity lasted for approximately 10 s. An extraordinary case involved a protracted incapacitation due to heart tamponade from a small myocardial injury caused by a cannula. In the remaining seven cases, a stab wound to the heart was present. With regard to the physical activity, a long-term group (2-10 min, n = 4) can be differentiated from a short-term group (approximately 10 s, n = 2) and one case of immediate incapacitation. The size of the myocardial perforation was 7-10 mm in length in the long-term group compared to 1.4-2 cm in the short-term group. So small perforations of the heart or incisions of the carotid artery offer a potential for considerable physical activity. Large perforations of the heart or a transection of the carotid and vertebral arteries can result in short-term activity.

The present study examined the verbalizations of 16 teachers from inclusive preschool classrooms. Two hours of audiotaped verbalizations for each teacher were analyzed for one-onone interactions between teachers and children and also for interactions between teachers and small groups of children. Results showed that teachers did not modify their question-asking behavior depending on the ability level of the children or the composition of small groups of children. Teachers asked primarily low-level questions to all children. In their statements, teachers used more logical directives and directives, and fewer supportive responses to children with disabilities than they did to typically developing children. The focus of teachers' verbalizations differed depending on whether children had disabilities or were typically developing. These results suggest that teachers need to be provided with information that will help them challenge children by varying the demand level of questions and matching their verbalizations to the child's ability level. Future research should address the bi-directionality of interactions and the implications for teacher preparation programs.

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