[On two cases of lethal trichloroethylene intoxication (author's transl)]. / Uber zwei Fälle von tödlicher Trichloräthylenvergiftung.

Two lethal cases of inhalation of vapors containing trichloroethylene are reported. The results of autopsy and of histological and toxicological examinations indicated a long lasting exposure and survival time.

[Traumatic thrombosis of the carotis artery (author's transl)]. / Traumatische Carotisthrombose.

The case of an 51-year-old man, who died about 24 hrs after having tried to commit suicide by hanging is reported. Death was caused by rupture of an arteriosclerotic layer in the left carotis communis artery with consecutive intramural bleeding and thrombosis of the left carotis communis, carotis interna and carotis externa arteries. In this respect another case of an injury of the neck and thrombosis of the carotis interna artery is reported. On the basis of these two cases the clinical and legal importance of diagnosis and causal connexion are discussed.

[On the problem of defensive dismembering of a dead body by a person not involved in the previous homicide (author's transl)]. / Zum Problem der defensiven Leichenzerstückelung durch an der vorangegangenen Tötung Unbeteiligte.

A person accused of murder maintained that he found his nextdoor neighbour dead. Because he had already served a long sentence for homicide he stated that in a state of panic he dismembered and removed the dead body not to be suspected again.--For collecting information legal medicine institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria and Switzerland were consulted. The results are very instructive and are completed by reports from the literature. No proven case was found in which a person dismembered and disposed of an incidentally found body (or the body of someone who incidentally died in the presence of the subject) in order to prevent suspicion of guilt. Occasionally those statements were made, and also refuted.

[On the problem of capability to act during mechanical suffocation (author's transl)]. / Zur Frage der Handlungsfähigkeit bei mechanischer Erstickung

On a case of mechanical suffocation the problem of persistent "capability to act" during continuing insufficient blood perfusion of the brain is discussed. This means a form of manifestation exhibiting a certain aim, but which cannot be related to voluntary human behaviour. As an explanation reflex-like stimulus-reaction connexions often repeated during life-time are suggested. Similarly, verbal expressions not compatible with the actual situation at the point of death after severe injuries of the frontal lobe cannot be explained conclusively. Those manifestations can probably be attributed to engram-like or life-style forming impressions.

[Legal theory of value assessment and medical aspects of the need to protect the beginning of life]. / Der strafrechtliche Gedanke der Güterabwägung und medizinische Aspekte der Schutzbedürftigkeit des werdenden Lebens.

PIP: Legal aspects of pregnancy interruption, and particularly the legal status of the fetus, in West Germany are discussed. West German law permits abortion only to save the life of the mother. Complicating this state of affairs is the legal status of the fetus, which acquires human status with the beginning of labor. This complicates the legal position of the physician in the case of spontaneous abortion, since the fetus, gestational age, and development notwithstanding, must be treated as a child, so that life processes can continue for a few more minutes. Conversely, the fetus or infant may be sacrificed when the mother's life is at stake. From a medical standpoint, these principles are contradictory.^ieng