No abstract

The ligature mark is the most relevant feature of hanging. This study was undertaken with a view to determine the characteristic features of hanging and its association with ligature material or mode of suspension. Of a total medicolegal deaths reported at an Apex Medical Centre, hanging was noted in 4.1% cases, all suicidal with mortality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population per year. The hanging was complete in 67.7% with nylon rope as the commonest type of ligature material used for ligation. The hanging mark was usually single, situated above thyroid cartilage, incomplete, prominent, and directed toward nape of neck. The mark of dribbling of saliva was seen in 11.8% cases. Facial congestion, petechial hemorrhage, and cyanosis were significantly seen in partial hanging. Though occasionally reported, the argent line was noted in 78.7% hanging deaths with neck muscle hemorrhage in 23.6% cases. Fracture of neck structure was predominant in complete hanging.

The hanging mark is the most relevant feature of hanging and its characteristics are well known in the literature. But most of the time, the ligature material is not available during autopsy examination in hanging. Hence, the features of ligature material are not submitted to systematic analysis. However, the type and position of knot play an important role in the mechanism of death and autopsy findings in hanging. Out of the total hanging deaths, complete hanging was seen in 67.7% but typical hanging was noted in only 10.2% cases. The commonest type of ligature material used for ligation around the neck was nylon rope followed by odhni and jute rope. The fixed type of knot was noted in 64.6% and running (slip) in 21.3% cases. The commonest position of knot was at nape of the neck followed by the left side of the neck at mastoid. The number of turns/loops of ligature around the neck was one in 72.4% and two in 25.2% hanging deaths. The victims usually preferred home for committing suicide by hanging but tree was the commonest ligature points followed by beam and ceiling hook/fans. ª 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Forensic Medicine Authority.

Injuries caused by wild boar attacks are rare. The pattern of the tusk injuries by wild boar is rarely been mentioned in literature. Such injuries can be termed "tusk injuries". Herein, we discuss the pattern of a wild boar tusk wound following an attack on a 65-year-old man who sustained fatal injuries as a result.

Determination of the time of death is an important consideration in forensic practice. Many methods have been attempted to accurately and systematically determine the postmortem interval (PMI). Histologic examination of the skin or appendages is one of the methods tried by few researchers. However, no attempt had been made to analyze the histologic changes in the skin and appendages simultaneously and to compare them with PMI. We sequentially studied the histologic changes of the skin and appendages in the early PMI. The results of the present study show that the skin undergoes progressive morphological changes in the postmortem period. The epidermis and the dermis appeared normal for 6 hours after death, and after this period, degenerative changes began. By 6 to 9 hours after death, degeneration began in the dermis, and by the end of 18 hours, the dermis began to disintegrate. The sweat glands appeared normal for approximately 3 to 4 hours. For 18 hours after death, the sebaceous glands and hair follicles appeared normal, and after this period, degeneration began.