No abstract

The excretion of thiocyanate following the administration of equitoxic doses of cyanide to unprotected mice and to animals pretreated with various cyanide antidotes has been studied. The results demonstrate that cyanide given alone or to animals pretreated with thiosulfate is extensively converted to thiocyanate. Animals pretreated with sodium nitrite or a combination of nitrite and sodium thiosulfate excreted even higher amounts of thiocyanate. This demonstrates that cyanide originally detoxified by combination with methemoglobin is ultimately converted to thiocyanate in the animal body. Pretreatment of animals with cobalt compounds (cobaltous chloride or dicobalt-EDTA) or a combination of cobalt compounds and thiosulfate resulted, on the other hand, in a less efficient conversion of cyanide to thiocyanate. The cyanide detoxified by trapping as highly undissociated cobalt-cyanide complexes is instead excreted in the urine, as demonstrated by detection of high amounts of cobalt ions and strongly complex-bound cyanide in the urine from animals treated with cobalt compounds and cyanide. A method for the determination of cyanide present as cobalt-cyanide complexes is described and its forensic application is proposed.

The puncture is performed during ether anaesthesia and will usually give 0·6-0·8 ml within 10-15 s. Blood volumes up to 1 ml have frequently been obtained from adult mice with this method.

No abstract

The effect of firearm calibre and bullet velocity on head wounds were studied in anaesthetized dogs. Autopsy, radiological and microscopic studies were undertaken. It was found that the injuries inflicted by 7.62 mm ammunition with an impact velocity of 714--798 m/see were generally less severe than those inflicted by 5.56 mm ammunition with an impact velocity of 810 to approx. 1000 m/sec.Effects of low velocity were observed when the 7.62 mm ammunition was used. Typical high velocity effects were noted with the 5.56 mm ammunition. The entrance wound generally corresponded to the size and shape of the projectile. The size of the exit wound was directly proportional to the projectile's impact velocity. Indirect (shock wave) damage to the cranium, brain and, in one case, the atlas was noted.The effects of intra-and extra-cranial projectile fragments were studied together ~vith severe pressure effects in 4 cases.Model experiments were performed to study the pressure effects of the projectiles used. The maximum pressures measured were approximately proportional to the square of projectile velocities.Zusamme~/assung. Es werden experimentelle U~tersuchungen fiber Kopfverletzungen, hervorgerufen durch Gewehrprojektile, an mit Pentobarbital betgoubten Hunden beschrieben. Die Tiere warden nach der Beschie13ung mit Munition verschiedenen Kalibers und Aufschlagsgeschwindigkeit rSntgenologisch untersucht, die makroskopischen and mikroskopischen Befunde beschrieben. Es zeigte sich, daft die Verle~zungen, die durch Geschosse yon 7,62 mm-Kaliber und einer Aufschlagsgeschwindigkeit yon 7 lzl--798 m/see verursacht wurden, im Mlgemeinen weniger schwer sind Ms jene, die von 5,56 mm-kalibrigen Geschossen mit einer Aufschlagsgeschwindigkeit yon 810 bis etwa 1000 m/see herrfihren.Die beobachteten Verletzungen sind sowohl ffir Projektile niedriger wie hoher Aufschlagsgeschwindigkeit charakteristisch. Die Einschul~wunden alter Munitionsarten entsprechen im Mlgemeinen in Durchmesser und Form denen der verwendetea Projektile. Der Durchmesser der Ansschuftwundert nahm mit der Aufsch]agsgeschwindigkeit des Projektils zu. Indirekte Verletzungen des Schiidels, Gehirns und in 1 Fall des Atlaswirbels durch die Druckwelle des Geschosses wurden ebenfalls beobachtet.In 4 F/~llen fanden sich schwere, durch Druckwirkung yon Projektilsplittern hervorgerufene GewebszerstSrungen.In Modellversuchen wurde nachgewiesen, daft die entstehenden Maximaldrficke etwa dem Quach.at der Geschol~aufschlagsgeschwindigkeit proportional sind.