[Pump-gun as a weapon. Type of injuries, prohibition of weapons]. / Pumpgun--Waffe, Verletzungsbilder, Waffenverbot.

Pumpguns are shotguns with pump action whose injuries and wound mechanisms have several special features: extremely high kinetic energy of the shot (2500 to 3500 J) frequent cases of "Krönlein shots" (exenteration of the brain) punchmark/imprint immediately adjacent to the entrance wound from the front of the pipe magazine exit wounds from buckshot may be similar to pellet entrance injuries from a distant shotgun discharge the use of various shotgun cartridges (plastic ammunition, slug bullet, various lead pellets) within the same weapon. The change in the Austrian gun law and the banning of the pumpgun in 1995 is also discussed in the article.

Suicidal chloroquine poisoning: clinical course, autopsy findings, and chemical analysis.

Suicidal overdose of chloroquine is rare. We present a 14-year-old girl who was admitted to our Emergency Department after intentional ingestion of 7.5 g of chloroquine base followed by cardiac and respiratory arrest. Despite early mechanical ventilation, cardiac support, and treatment with high doses of diazepam, the patient died. Laboratory investigation indicated disseminated intravascular coagulation confirmed by petechial hemorrhages in the leptomeninges at autopsy, a finding that has not previously been described. Postmortem tissue analysis demonstrated early drug distribution to the medulla oblongata and cerebellum.

[Reliability of the Alco-Screen dip strips in evaluation of blood alcohol concentration for clinical or forensic studies]. / Zur Verlässlichkeit der Alco-Screen-Streifentests bei der Kontrolle der Blutalkoholkonzentration für klinische oder gerichtsmedizinische Untersuchungen.

We tested the accuracy of Alco-Screen dipsticks in comparison to the values of blood alcohol. The dipstick test is based on the reaction of alcohol-dehydrogenase, developing a green to blue color. Saliva as well as urine and liquor are easy to obtain at autopsies. We did not get any false-negative results. Interpretation of the change of color turned out to be a problem, because the tip appeared often to be inhomogenous. The dipstick could be used at autopsies and for emergency units, if a quick, semiquantitative result is required.

[Death caused by hypoglycemia after starvation--pathophysiology versus morphology]. / Tod durch Hypoglykämie nach Hungerzustand--Pathophysiologie versus Morphologie.

We describe a 19-year-old mentally retarded man who after severe starvation (criminally induced by his parents) presented with hypoglycemic coma and eventually experienced death. Biochemical findings and pathophysiology of starvation are discussed. The cause of death was hypoglycemia in combination with terminal infection. The importance of structural-functional conclusions and considerations for determination of the manner and cause of death is demonstrated.

[Pistols and revolvers as striking tools]. / Pistolen und Revolver als Schlagwerkzeuge.

Hand firearms and blank-cartridge arms may not only be used to fire cartridges, but also as blunt-edged tools. When used for striking the human body, they produce corresponding injuries (abrasions, hematomata, lacerations, fractures). The blows are preferably to the victim's head. The hands may show characteristic protective wounds. Impact of the pistol grip (or butt of the revolver) may cause typically shaped skin lesions and depressed fractures. Three cases of homicide are presented in order to show and discuss the morphological features of such injury patterns.

[Fatal dog bite injuries]. / Tödliche Hundebissverletzungen.

In the absence of her parents, a girl of 4 months was killed by a 2-year old male Rottweiler dog belonging to the same family. The dog's front teeth left marks of individual, circular or scratch-like abrasions as well as slit-like severances of the skin, arranged in curved lines. The pattern of the skin-lesions largely correspond to the anatomy of the dog's set of teeth. No tissue defects (effects of devour) could be detected. Multiple traumatization of the trunk had led to serial rib fractures and ruptures of several organs.

[Forensically important penis injuries]. / Kriminalistisch bedeutende Penisverletzungen.

Three cases with injuries of the penis are reported, 3 further cases are mentioned. These cases were 3 suicides, 2 cases, where the injury was inflicted by another person and 1 case with injury caused by a dog. Differential diagnosis is discussed.

[Fatal myocardial rupture as a complication in removal of a pacemaker catheter]. / Tödliche Myokardruptur als Komplikation bei Entfernung einer Schrittmachersonde.

A case of myocardial rupture and cardiac tamponade after pulling out a tined electrode is reported. Pacemaker failure caused by lead fractures is a common reason for removing the electrode. In case of a self-anchoring lead alternative methods should be considered. The opportunity for immediate surgical help must be given.

[Findings in intermediate ridges of strangulation marks and their value as signs of vitality]. / Befunde am Zwischenstreifen von Strangmarken und ihre Wertigkeit als Vitalitätszeichen.

Ecchymotic skin ridges, which are frequently found between the ligature turns in cases of dual or multiple loop ligature indicate to many authors hanging in life. Our examinations on an unselected group of corpses have led to the result that extravasations on the ridges between the ligature turns can be produced many hours after death, even outside the hypostatic area. In the case of prolonged suspension, small sub- and intra-epidermal blisters filled with serous fluid and fat may form on wide ridged strips between the ligature turns; the cells of the raised epidermis show significant large fat vacuoles. The bullous changes of the skin as well as the ridge ecchymoses can easily be reproduced in post mortem experiments. Therefore, both results cannot prove ante-mortem hanging. The paper presents four cases of suicidal hanging with vesication on the ridge between the ligature turns.