[Unusual disposal of cadavers. Report on 2 cases]. / Ungewöhnliche Leichenbeseitigung. Bericht über zwei Fälle.

Report on two cases of removal of corpses. Case 1: A human skeleton and lumps of adipocere were found in a liquid manure pit as the remains of a 49 years old male. The identity of the person could be proved by the results of the odontological examination. In two ribs we found small holes; they could be qualified as gun-shot injuries due to the results of morphological, chemical and radiological investigations. This made it possible to determine the line of the gun-shot within the body and the cause of death. The bullet (with the calibre .22) was detected in a lump of adipocere. It allowed the identification of the weapon, and this lead to the confession of a 74 year old man as the murderer. The crime had been committed 1 1/2 years ahead the discovery of the corpse. Case 2: A prostitute has been missed for about 2 years. Her nude corpse was found in a deep-freezer, which was still working. The corpse was well preserved beside few alterations of beginning putrefaction; this process was stopped by deep-freezing. The woman was killed by gun-shot into the neck. The bullet was still in the corpse, which allowed to prove the identity of the weapon as well as the murderer. He had committed suicide 9 months earlier than the cadaver has been discovered.

[Rare complications following tracheotomy and intubation (author's transl)]. / Ungewöhnliche Komplikationen nach Tracheotomie und Intubation.

Report on two cases: Case 1: A young male was tracheotomized because of respiratory insufficiency due to a thoraco-abdominal trauma. The injuries were fatal 8 hours following tracheotomy. Autopsy revealed a tube like formation located in the upper trachea, consisting of coagulated blood. The peculiar shape was caused by a splinting effect of the tracheal cannula. A trickling tracheostomal hemorrhage was found to be the causal factor. --Case 2: After long-term tracheotomy due to a laryngeal trauma a tracheostomal intubation was performed in a young male for the purpose of a surgical revision of the laryngeal injuries. Two days later sudden death occurred. Autopsy revealed a tube like formation in the upper trachea, consisting of fibrin and desquamated necrotic tracheal epithelium, which had occluded the cannula in a valve like manner. The originating mechanism of this pathological state is demonstrated. The significance of preexisting chronic tracheitis and the use of a tube with a rather rigid cuff (nylon spiral tube) as additional promoting factors are discussed.

[Apparently contradictory homozygosity of gc- and esd-markers in three generations (author's transl)]. / Scheinbar entgegengesetzte Homozygotie der Gc-und EsD-Merkmale in drei Generationen.

In a paternity case we found contradictory blood group antigens in the serum- and enzyme-polymorphisms Gc and EsD of the child, her mother and grandparents. A possible accidental exchange of the child could be excluded by biostatistical calculations of the probabilities of motherhood, fatherhood and parenthood, and the descent from the parents was proven in both generations. The serological findings may be explained by the concurrent existence of silent genes or of genes that cannot be determined as yet. The genetic information Gc degrees descended from the grandfather and that for EsD degrees from the grandmother. Both were transmitted from the mother to the child. Thus, the case could be cleared by statistical considerations only.

[Concerning the development of brainstem injuries (author's transl)]. / Zur Entstehung von Hirnstammverletzungen

Since the etiology of traumatic brainstem lesions has not been completely clarified we tried to analyse this question from autopsy material with special consideration of the effects of rotational acceleration of the head resulting from an impact force. Seventeen cases without a skull fracture were investigated. We considered the tentorium as a suitable indicator for possible relative movements occuring between cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum as well as the brainstem since, because of its attachment to the skull, it follows all excursions of the skull directly and simultaneously. The brain, however, due to its inertia, remains stationary in the beginning so that injuries may occur on the structures mentioned. The results of the autopsies confirmed these assumptions, for both uni- and bilateral tears as well as hemorrhages in the tentorium cerebelli were found. Associated were subarchnoid hemorrhages over the upper vermis and thin layered hematomas between the tentorium and the cerebellum. In all cases the brainstems showed both microscopic and macroscopic hemorrhages of the isthmus cerebri and in some cases of the cerebral peduncles and the cerebellar brachia conjunctiva. These hemorrhages are attributed to shearing forces and tension arising from movements between tentorium and the surrounding brain components. The mechanical effects on the brainstem and its surrounding structures at various rotational accelerations of the head (along transversal, vertical and sagital axis) are discussed. The combination of brainstem lesions with injuries of the tentorium suggests that the brainstem injury was a primary result of the impact. Finally the possible significance of rotational acceleration for brainstem injuries caused by whiplash mechanism of the head in connection with improperly used automobile safety belts or inadequate headrests is discussed.