Biomedical subjects

N J Hartshorne

Publications and source records attributed to N J Hartshorne.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Accidental firearm fatality involving a hand-crafted pen gun. Case report.

We report a case in which a homemade 0.25 caliber "pen gun" resulted in the accidental death of a man examining the weapon unaware of its lethal nature. The design of the weapon consisted of a spring-loaded firing mechanism contained in a housing resembling a writing pen. Thus, the weapon was similar to zip guns and tear gas pen guns but differed in its craftsmanship and primary purpose of firing conventional ammunition. Another notable feature of the case was an atypical entrance wound due to the 0.25 caliber Winchester AXP ammunition that the pen gun fired. With respect to the weapon and ammunition, this case represents an unusual firearm fatality reported to increase awareness and alert pathologists, as well as law enforcement personnel, to the existence of homemade weapons made to look like innocuous objects.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1997

Fatal head injuries in ground-level falls.

We analyzed 75 cases of fatal ground-level falls that were investigated by the King County Medical Examiner over a 48-month period, with autopsies performed on 87% of the deaths: 69% of the cases were men and 61% occurred in ages > or = 70 years; only 12% were aged < 50 years, with the youngest aged 28 years. Most of the falls occurred in or about the residence, and many individuals were known to have fallen onto hard surfaces. In 77% of cases there was significant pre-existing natural disease, mostly cardiovascular disease. Liver disease was more frequently a contributing factor in those aged < 50 years. Ethanol was present in 48% of those cases tested, more frequently present in men than in women. Basal skull fractures were present in 37% of cases, and acute subdural hematomas, the most common intracranial lesion, were present in 85%. We concluded that fatal ground-level falls were much more common in elderly persons, owing to a greater predisposition to falling, as well as intrinsic age-related changes, including a greater susceptibility to acute subdural hematoma.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed1995

Unexpected amantadine intoxication in the death of a trauma patient.

We present a case of amantadine intoxication that developed unexpectedly in a hospitalized patient with craniocerebral trauma. The intoxication confused the clinical situation and contributed to the patient's deterioration and death. After excluding overdosage as the cause of the intoxication, we concluded that the excessive blood drug levels (39 mg/L) resulted from tubulointerstitial nephritis--induced renal failure. This case represents an example of an adverse drug reaction that resulted in an unusual drug intoxication and illustrates why toxicological analyses are important for investigation of deaths in hospitalized patients.

Adult↗