A study of sexual dimorphism of femoral head in Gujarat region.

Various diameters of head of femur have been in use for sex determination. These diameters vary region wise also. Therefore we undertook the study in Jamnagar region of Gujarat. Maximum diameter of the femoral head was measured in 184 dry, normal, adult, human femora (136 male & 48 female) obtained from M. P. Shah Medical College Jamnagar Gujarat. Mean Values obtained were, 43.75 and 40.33 for right male and female, and 43.88 and 40.64 for left male and female respectively. Higher value in male was statistically highly significant (P< 0.001) on both sides. The data was subjected to demarking point (D.P.) analysis. Maximum head diameter identified 11.90% of right male femora and 7.25% of left male femora; in female it identified 4% of left female femora while it was not useful (0.00%) for right female bone. Though the sex of the bone can be determined from head of the femur bone, in itself it is far from conclusive.

Evaluation of mechanical injuries in homicidal deaths: (A retrospective study of 5 years).

Jamnagar region, Gujarat state, enjoys a relatively low incidence of homicide in India. The following study examined 120 cases, (67.04%) of homicides where death was produced by inflicting various mechanical injuries on the body, reported during the years 2000 to 2004. Incidence of homicidal deaths due to mechanical injuries was 24 cases per year. It formed about 2.89% of all the total medico legal autopsies conducted during the period. Mechanical injuries were quite common in homicidal deaths involving as many as 92 male and 27 female victims. Majority of the victims were in the age group of 21 to 40 years with 77 cases, (64.17%). Blunt force was the most commonly employed method seen in 58 cases, (48.33%). It was followed by sharp force seen in 38 cases, (31.67%) and sharp and blunt combine forces seen in 23 cases, (19.17%). Incidence of fire arm injuries was quite rare in the present study. Head injury was quite common in homicide. Maximum external injuries were seen on the head and mostly they were produced by hard, blunt and heavy weapons. Stab injuries were commonly seen on the chest and abdomen. In the present study 35 cases, (29.17%) showed presence of defence wounds. Defence wounds were commonly seen in the male victims.

Profile of fatal poisoning in and around Jamnagar.

The paper presents the study of 132 cases of poisoning received in the Dept of forensic Medicine M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar for post-mortem examination (PME) during the span of one year. Out of 826 PME done during the study period 132 (15.98 %) cases were that of poisoning. The cases were then analysed on various epidemiological parameters feeding the information in the proforma prepared for this purpose. We concluded that majority of victims were married, Hindu, males from rural area and low socio economic group. Majority of victims died within 1-6 hours of consumption of poison. Suicidal cases were for more commoner than accidental one. No case of homicidal poisoning was detected in present study. Chemical analysis of viscera was done in 115(87.12 %) cases (snake bite cases excluded). During the span of study we could get report of C.A. in 98 (85.21 %) cases. Insecticides still toped the list as killer no one, while snakebite was second most common fatal poisoning. This study differs from most of the contemporary studies in one important aspect that is we could get C. A. report in large no of cases. C.A. reports were positive in 90 per cent cases.