Fatality During Servicing of Fire Extinguisher.

Fire extinguisher is an integral part of emergency responses to small fires. Different types of fire extinguisher exists; cartridge-based fire extinguisher is commonly used. Despite their intended use for safety, such devices can become dangerous if not properly handled or maintained. This case report describes the death of a soldier from the explosion of a cartridge-based fire extinguisher during routine servicing. The case is the first reported in the medical literature. A safety device like fire extinguisher can become dangerous if not handled with care and due steps should be taken for the maintenance of such devices before being operated in the public domain.

Human fatalities caused by animal attacks: A six-year autopsy study.

Deaths caused by animal attacks in urban as well as rural areas are rising. With dwindling forest cover and with more interaction of animals with humans in day-to-day life, we need to understand the reasons, manner and causes of these fatal events. We studied 151 cases of fatal animal/human conflicts and in particular, the manner and mechanism of causation of injuries with respect to different types of animals. In this region there were more fatal snake bites followed by cattle attacks. Humans are at some risk while in the vicinity of animals whether in the wild or in human settlements. Human/animal conflicts occur due to reducing habitat for animals and the demands of humans. One must be aware of the potential dangers from animals and as a health care provider it is our duty to educate the public at large. They need to be cautious when around animals, seek medical care after an animal injury and wear protective equipment when working around or with animals.

Engraved Suicide Notes: The Last Note Written on Body by Metallic Object.

"Suicide notes" are the notes, where the victim has documented the intention to terminate one's own life. The victim generally writes them on a paper, notebook, wall, or mirror by means of pen or marker. However, suicide notes written on one's own body are very rare, and suicide note engraved by some metallic objects over body has not yet reported. We present two cases where the victim had used some metallic objects to write a message on the body. These may be termed "engraved suicide notes." We believe these to be the first reported cases where a metallic object was used for engraving the last notes on the body before committing suicide.

Estimation of height from the length of the sternum in an adult Indian population.

Stature estimation is one of the essential early steps during forensic investigation of human skeletal remains. The aim of the present study was to obtain a linear regression formula for estimating stature from sternal length of a central Indian population. The study includes 92 male cadavers brought for medico-legal autopsies. The linear regression equations were derived from manubrium, mesosternum and the total sternal length. The regression model provided a 95% confidence interval of ±14.8 cm and a correlation coefficient of 0.55. Compared with other studies, regression formulae based on the length of the sternum provided considerably larger standard errors than that based on long bone lengths. The study indicates that sternal length in relation with body stature shows a moderate positive correlation and relatively low reliability in estimating stature, and has limited forensic value.

Compression asphyxia from a human pyramid.

In compression asphyxia, respiration is stopped by external forces on the body. It is usually due to an external force compressing the trunk such as a heavy weight on the chest or abdomen and is associated with internal injuries. In present case, the victim was trapped and crushed under the falling persons from a human pyramid formation for a "Dahi Handi" festival. There was neither any severe blunt force injury nor any significant pathological natural disease contributing to the cause of death. The victim was unable to remove himself from the situation because his cognitive responses and coordination were impaired due to alcohol intake. The victim died from asphyxia due to compression of his chest and abdomen. Compression asphyxia resulting from the collapse of a human pyramid and the dynamics of its impact force in these circumstances is very rare and is not reported previously to the best of our knowledge.

Fatal Wounds by "Manja" to a Motorbike Rider in Motion.

"Kite fights" are quite popular throughout Asia. Most kite variations, including the fighter kites of India, Pakistan, and Japan, are small, flat, roughly diamond-shaped kites composed of paper, with a tapered bamboo spine and a balanced bow. They are flown with the help of a "Manja," which is a thread made of cotton or nylon, and coated with fine glass powder using glue and other chemical adhesives to cut down opponent's kite string. The nylon "Manja" is particularly more dangerous, as it not only cuts down opponent's kite string but also causes bodily injuries to humans, which may be at times fatal. The pattern of injuries by Manja is underreported in literature. In the present case, the deceased had encountered fatal injuries by "Manja" while riding on his motorbike. This case discusses the pattern of injuries caused by Manja when the victims are in motion on their two-wheelers.

Fatal tusk injuries from a wild boar attack.

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.

Cardiac changes in hospitalized patients of trauma.

Modern clinical management of the patients sustaining traumatic injuries and thermal burns has resulted in their longer survival, but the clinical and pathological effects of these traumatic injuries over the myocardium have been largely neglected. It is speculated that certain factors such as the inflammatory and degenerative lesions of the heart, prolonged clinical course, and the subsequent stress and strain may play role in hastening the death. In the present study, 125 hospitalized cases of traumatic injuries and thermal burns brought for medicolegal autopsy were examined, with the purpose to find out the incidence, its significance, and the extent of the myocardial lesions due to stress and strain following trauma. About 20% patients had myocardial lesions recognized at gross and histological examination at autopsy. A myocardial lesion does develop in the cases of traumatic injuries and thermal burns. No significant sex difference is seen in the cases showing positive myocardial lesions. However, a relationship exists between these myocardial lesions and the after-effects developing in the cases of trauma. These myocardial lesions seen in the cases of traumatic injuries can be termed as early ischemic or anoxic lesions in the absence of any specific coronary pathology. The intensity of myocardial lesions increases with increase in the survival period of the patient. The findings in the study support the concept of human stress cardiomyopathy and demonstrate the potential significance of stress in precipitating death.

Compression asphyxia in upright suspended position.

In compression asphyxia, the respiration is prevented by external pressure on the body. It is usually due to external force compressing the trunk due to heavy weight over chest/abdomen and is associated with internal injuries. In the present case, the victim was suspended in an upright position owing to wedging of the chest and the abdomen in the gap between 2 parallel bridges undergoing construction. There was neither any heavy weight over the body, nor was any external force applied over the trunk. Moreover, there was neither any severe blunt force injury nor any significant pathological natural disease contributing to the cause of death. The body was wedged in the gap between 2 static hard surfaces. The victim was unable to extricate himself from the position owing to impairment of cognitive responses and coordination due to influence of alcohol. The victim died as a result of "static" asphyxia due to compression of the chest and the abdomen. Compression asphyxia in upright suspended position under this circumstance is very rare and not reported previously to the best of our knowledge.

Injuries over neck in hanging deaths and its relation with ligature material: is it vital?

Hanging is a common suicidal means adopted. Careful inspection and noting of ligature mark is a vital factor during medico-legal postmortem. Ligature material used by the deceased is an important factor causing ligature mark in hanging. Apart from the ligature mark there are other injuries over neck surrounding it, which are called as 'peri-ligature injuries'. Peri-ligature injuries such as blisters, bruise, abrasion, etc. are influenced by different types of ligature material involved. These peri-ligature injuries are important for commenting on the antemortem nature of hanging in addition to other factors. Thus the present study on hanging deaths was carried out to see the relation of ligature material and different injuries occurring over the neck.

Fatal subcutaneous emphysema by manja: a deadly string.

'Manja' is an abrasive string which is gummed, coloured and coated with powdered glass used in fighter kites in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chile, India, Nepal, Pakistan, etc. Subcutaneous emphysema occurs when gas or air is present in the subcutaneous layer of the skin either because of blunt and penetrating trauma, chest surgeries or by necrotising skin infections such as gangrene. Here, we present a case of subcutaneous emphysema owing to a cut-throat injury by 'manja', which is rare and has not been reported to date to the best of our knowledge.

Decomposed and non-decomposed bodies retrieved from water: a comparative approach.

The cause and manner of death in submersion cases are a routine challenge for forensic pathologists as they present considerable diagnostic difficulties. The present study was undertaken with a view to determine the characteristic pattern in bodies retrieved from water. From a total of 6779 medicolegal deaths reported at an Apex Medical Centre, Yeotmal, a rural district of Maharashtra over a 10-year study period, only 110 cases (1.6%) were decomposed and 243 cases (3.6%) were non-decomposed bodies retrieved from water with a rate of 0.6 decomposed body as compared with 1.4 non-decomposed bodies per 100,000 population per year. However, out of total 353 bodies retrieved from water, 31.2% were decomposed and 68.8% non-decomposed. Male predominance was seen in both groups with peak at 31-40 years. The cause and manner of death were ascertained as 89.9% and 82.7%, respectively, in decomposed bodies as compared with 100% and 96.3%, respectively, in non-decomposed bodies. Drowning was the commonest cause of death in both groups with suicide as the commonest manner of death in decomposed bodies in contrast to accidental in non-decomposed bodies. Excessive amount of pleural fluid, aquatic animal activity and mud/vegetation in lower respiratory tract was more commonly encountered in decomposed bodies. However, fine white froth was not seen in any of the cases in contrast to 81% non-decomposed bodies. Bodies were commonly recovered from wells in both groups. Most of the bodies were retrieved in the rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons in both groups.

A fatal mongoose bite.

Animal bite is a bite wound from a pet, farm or wild animal. Dog bites make up 80-85% of all reported incidents. Cats amount for about 10% of reported bites and other animals such as rodents, rabbits, horses, raccoons, bats and monkeys amount to 5-10%. Bites by mongoose are uncommon. Here, we present a case of fatal mongoose bite to an elderly woman who died as a complication of streptococcal infection at the bite site.

Postmortem analysis of synovial fluid and vitreous humour for determination of death interval: A comparative study.

This study has been extended to compare directly the accuracy of determining death interval from biochemical parameter of synovial fluid and vitreous humour. In 154 medicolegal cases with known time of death both fluids were taken and analyzed for sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, creatinine, glucose, and urea. Both fluids showed comparable values. The study indicates that level of potassium and glucose levels in synovial fluid for determining death interval are atleast as accurate as if not more accurate than potassium and glucose levels in vitreous humour. Nevertheless determination of level of potassium in synovial fluid and vitreous humour can afford the most accurate method of determining death interval.