Determination of posterior fourchette coital wounds in rape victims by using toluidine blue.

Posterior fourchette coital wounds in rape victims are oneof the important evidences of sexual crime, raping. The small and shallow abrasions at genital organ are difficult to determine fordetection of sexual evidence. In this studying, the author’s intension is whether the using 1% Toluidine Blue applied at genital organ ofsexual assaulted victims, posterior fourchette and lower labia majora and minora, could develope the wounds clearer. The enrolled victims of this study were 241 cases who had been raped and came to Forensic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, MahidolUniversity for examination and collecting sexual evidences, during May, 1997 to May, 1998. The results showed that the application of 1%Toluidine Blue on posterior fourchette could develope, 33.6-35.5% ofclearer wounds than ordinary nake-eyed examination and 4.6 - 6.3% of unseen posterior fourchette wounds. Therefore, the application of 1% Toluidine Blue at genital organ especially at posterior fourchette of sexual assaulted vicitms is recommended in rape victim examination.

Blood sprashing during autopsy.

Experiment for evaluation of blood splashing during autopsy was carried out at Forensic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. One hundred and ninety five sets of samples were collected from June 1995 through October 1995. One set of sample swabs, composed of eight swabs made from cotton moistened with normal saline, was collected by painting on eight tested areas; periorbitals, lips, both cheeks, neck, right hand, left hand, right forearm and left forearm respectively; of individual cleaner after routine legal autopsy. The duration of autopsy was also recorded. The pretest swabs, painted by one swab on all eight above areas of cleaners before autopsies, were collected and tested by Bensidine Test to determine the false positive sample sets. All samples, after screening the false positive, were tested by Bensicine Test. The results ere recorded and statistically analysed. The results revealed that there were blood staining in almost all of the eight tested areas as shown in Tables.

The comparison of seminal stains extracted from swabs collected by physicians of the out-patient department and the forensic medicine department at Siriraj Hospital.

The comparison of seminal stains extracted from swabs collected by physicians of the out-patient Department (OPD) and the Forensic Medicine Department at Siriraj Hospital has been carried out. 261 swab samples were collected from January 1, 1988 through December 31, 1992. The results showed that the swabs from vaginal rape case victims collected by physicians at OPD were not satisfactory. Physicians in OPD should use great care in the collection of specimens of vaginal discharges particularly in cases of rape where such a specimen is key evidence in criminal and civilian procedure of Thai Codes. Additionally, in the author’s opinion, the rape victims should be immediately referred to forensic physicians for closer examination and collection of evidence.

The reaction of acid phosphatase test to vaginal suppository drugs and other cleansing reagents.

Fifty five suppository drugs and cleansing reagents were collected and tested with the solution of acid phosphatase test. The result revealed there was no positive for reaction between the solution and those substances.