Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M S Salgado.
A brief history of forensic medicine in the Indo-Pacific region followed by the extent of medical education imparted to undergraduates and current practice in various countries of the region are examined.
The remains of a suspected case of homicide, found to be almost totally skeletal on exhumation, was dug out from a pit in a tract of marshy land in the deep south or Sri Lanka. No clothing or other identifying articles were found with the remains. During exhumation a distinct odour of kerosene oil was observed. Examination revealed that the major part of the skeleton was present, including the skull and lower jaw. Examination of these enabled an opinion to be given on the stature, sex and age of the deceased. The head hair found at exhumation showed evidence of burning. Two groups of injuries were found in the bones. One group was consistent with injuries caused during life and showing the characters of healing and moulding. Although medical records were not available, it was possible to obtain a description of the injuries from the court records as a doctor had given evidence on injuries sustained by the deceased years previously. The other group comprised of injuries that would have caused or contributed to death, or were post-mortem injuries inflicted for purposes of disposal. This case illustrates that personal identification may be established from old healed skeletal injuries.
Mortality resulting from agrochemicals met within the Office of the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo, which is the premier Medico-legal Institute in Sri Lanka, are analysed over a 3-year period and the morbidity and mortality rates of the entire country are examined over a 10-year period. The number of patients admitted to hospitals in Sri Lanka during the period 1975-1983, stood at around 11,000-15,000 each year, with the year 1983 recording 16,649 admissions. The number of deaths during the same period varied from 900 to 1500 each year, while the year 1983 recording 1521 deaths. About 75% of such cases of poisoning were due to self ingestion while accidental and occupational poisoning formed the balance. Principal agricultural districts like Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Nuwara-Eliya and Badulla recorded the highest incidence of poisoning. The mortality figures of the Office of the J.M.O., Colombo, indicated that 4% of all bodies subjected to autopsy were those of agrochemical poisoning. The male/female ratio was 2:1. Seventy-five percent of deaths from agrochemical poisoning were recorded in the 15-39 year age group, while 33% of deaths belonged to the 20-24 age group. One third of cases of agrochemical poisoning were dead on being brought to hospital, while 50% were dead within 2 h and 60% dead within 24 h. Organophosphates accounted for 57.6% of all cases of agrochemical poisoning, while paraquat accounted for 21.2% of cases. Deaths were also reported from what are called safe chemicals like Carbamates and Pyrethrums due to their lethal additives.
This paper is based on the analysis of 524 autopsies carried out on the victims of road accidents at the Office of the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo for a 2-year period ending December 1985. 51.4% of the fatalities were among pedestrians. The highest number of fatalities were in the age group 20-29 years. Cranio-cerebral injury was the commonest cause of death in all groups of victims.
In a small country such as Sri Lanka, very interesting applications of forensic medicine and medicolegal investigation exist. We present information that provides an important addition to the knowledge of medicolegal investigators all over the world.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.