Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Iffland.
A young drug consumer died after sniffing and drinking chloroform. The method to determine chloroform in body fluids and tissues is described. The influence of the oral and pulmonary absorption in the view to cause of death is discussed.
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The content of Cr, Mn, Cu, Mg, Ca, Zn, and Fe has been determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 30 meningiomas and in Pacchionian granulations. The elements Cr, Mn, and Cu show no distinct relation to different tumor types. The broad spectrum of data for Fe is considered to be due to a different blood volume or microbleedings in the meningiomas clinically irrelevant in nature. The Ca-values correspond with the microscopic calcifications. An obvious coincidence exists partly between the high Ca- and Mg-values, in some tumors concentrations of Mg are partly higher than the concentrations of Ca. The latter finding is in concordance with tumors without microscopic calcifications. It is assumed that the inhibitory potency of Mg against mineralization reflects the metabolic antagonism between Ca and Mg. The highest values for Zn are seen in fibromatous meningiomas. This finding possibly corresponds with the function of Zn as co-enzyme in the synthesis of proteins in this copiously reticulin- and collagen-producing type of meningioma.
A comparison of phospholipid content of sera from heart blood and sinus blood from the brain with the rate of haemolysis in the blood samples, with age, sex, degree of arteriosclerosis and cause of death, showed a relationship with the cause of death in spite of wide dispersion of the single values. The remaining factors of the 145 unselected human cadavers, which were not putrefied, seemed to have no influence. Small amounts of haemolysis caused a decrease of phospholipid concentration whereas an extensive haemolysis clearly led to an increase. The results of 46 deaths by hanging confirmed the fundamental studies of Berg (1950, 1952), who demonstrated that an increased secretion of phospholipids during the strangulation process is to be interpreted as a vital phenomenon. Compression of cervical vessels resulted in statistically significant differences between phospholipid concentrations in serum of heart and sinus blood.
Chlormethiazol in body-fluids and tissues is measured with a sensitive gaschromatographic method. The blood-concentration is a reference point for calculating the dosage and effect of chlormethiazol especially in medical questions of behaviour in traffic. The blood levels after a single and also long-term dosage were determined.
The content of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in the walls of v.femoralis, v.saphena and v.brachialis was measured with atomic-absorption spectrometry. Calcium showed distinct differences among the veins with increasing age. There is a remarkably high increase and more inhomogenous distribution for calcium in the v.femoralis of older people.
Self-inflicted injuries can be classified in groups. One group deals with the simulation of illness, another with the occurrence itself and the application of chemical, thermic or mechanical methods. One sector concerns self-mutilation, which, from a psychiatrist's point of view, is interesting. At this time we are more concerned with the problems of proving it. In wartime and even during military service in peace-time soldiers inflict mutilating injuries on themselves. They are motivated by the notion that they will gain benefit from their action. Economic gain plays a role in the case of people who have taken out private accident insurance: self mutilation to simulate the result of an accident. Our investigation into self-mutilation started with an analysis under the following aspects of 123 cases: age, sex, occupation, place of residence, place and time of deed, method employed (weapon used), localisation, single or multiple wound, direction of injury, position of fingers, nature of edges of wound. Whether or not an injury was suffered voluntarily or involuntarily can only be determined with the help of auxiliary facts. It must be clarified whether or not the information given by the injured person ties in with facts concerning the place where the injury was sustained, its position and its direction. The medico-legal expert should not interpret medical findings without relating them to the facts of the case. Indeed, he should start by examining the claimant's account of the accident. To some extent it almost requires the work of a general staff to compare the findings of a careful medical investigation with the injuries themselves. If the injury was inflicted by a certain tool information must be available regarding, for example, the "accident with the saw" together with an assessment of the wounds sustained (utilization of clinical material). Sometimes tests on corpses need to be carried out because these can provide information on mechanical and physical problems. When the direction of the wound is being clarified together with an appraisal of any traces found electron scanning and microscopic tests should also be incorporated into the examination in addition to medical and X-ray tests. At the slightest suspicion that a wound might have been self-inflicted appropriate tests should be carried out immediately. Conclusions should only be drawn by someone who has made an intensive study of this special field which is of such great forensic interest.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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A method ist described to determine the CO-content in the tissue of muscles. The prepared tissue is pulverized in a swinging mill at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. Parts of the powder are weighed into headspace vessels. Carbon monoxide ist ejected by a formerly described method and measured gaschromatographically. The Fe-content is determined after an acid disintegration by AAS. Acute intoxications lead to higher CO-contents in heart than in periphere muscles. Chronic exposure to carbon monoxide does not produce these differences.