Jacques Timperman

Deaths in the Bath

A retrospective survey of fatalities in the bath during the period 1934–83 is presented. The deaths were investigated in the Department of Legal Medicine at the University of Ghent. More than half of the deaths were caused by carbon monoxide intoxication (52 per cent). The remaining deaths were due to suicide (20 per cent), natural causes, e.g. epilepsy or cardiac arrest (8.5 per cent) or to accidental drowning, e.g. unattended infants (8.5 per cent). We found two cases of homicide; one being the murder of a child, the other a case of manual strangulation, the body having subsequently been placed in the bath. In one unusual case the autopsy was not performed until after the body had been buried for eight months. Although murder was suspected, neither the autopsy nor toxicological findings revealed the exact cause of death.

Tandem bullet in the head in a case of suicide.

The authors report a suicide in which two fired cartridges were found and the victim showed only one entrance wound. Tandem bullets were removed from the head. Such misfirings due to faulty ammunition are most exceptional.

Serious complications of laparoscopy.

The authors report a case of fatal carbon dioxide embolism in a woman who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy, during which the insufflation needle punctured a major pelvic vein. The risks of coelioscopy are discussed.

Thin Layer Chromatography as a Routine Appropriate Technique for the Determination of Bipyridylium Herbicides in Post Mortem Human Tissues

A thin layer chromatographic procedure for the detection of bipyridylium compounds in post-mortem human tissues is described. To verify the suitability of the method, human biological samples originating from two fatal poisoning cases, are analyzed. In the first case, an amount of Gramoxone® (Paraquat) was taken orally. Death occurred after ± 30 hours without any specific treatment. The second case is concerned with an ingestion of Reglone® (Diquat), followed by death after 5 days of intensive care treatment.

How some medicolegal aspects of the Zeebrugge Ferry disaster apply to the investigation of mass disasters.

The capsizing of a British Channel ferry as it left Zeebrugge. Belgiums harbor, on the 6th of March, 1987, resulted in an all-out effort by Belgian and British authorities to identify the victims as well as to determine the medicolegal ramifications. This report describes the investigation and the lessons learned from it.

Correlation between postmortem ethanol levels in the blood and the testicle

SummaryThis study emphasizes the value of the presence of ethanol in the testicle. It proves particularly useful in cases where blood and urine are no more present in the body.In 633 cases where blood or urine were still available, a highly positive correlation between the blood alcohol and the amount of alcohol present in the testicle could be demonstrated, thus confirming the research carried out in the Department of Legal Medicine as far back as 1943.An attempt is further made to assess the possible influence of such factors as putrefaction, submersion or post-traumatic anemia on this correlation.ZusammenfassungNach langjährigen Untersuchungen wird an 633 statistisch ausgewerteten Fällen die Korrelation zwischen Alkohol im Hodengewebe und im Blut mit r=0.92, ermittelt. Auf die Einflüsse von Fäulnis, Wasserliegezeit oder posttraumatischem Blutverlust wird hingewiesen. Akuter Blutverlust brachte keine nennenswerte Veränderung. Bei chronischem Blutverlust ist nach Kaufmann et al. [25] mit einer Beeinträchtigung zu rechnen. Insgesamt ist die Methode geeignet, eine Alkoholbeeinflussung bei männlichen Leichen bis zu etwa 72h Liegezeit zu überprüfen, wenn keine Blutwerte ermittelt oder sonstige Körperflüssigkeiten bzw. Organe mehr gesichert werden können.

Sudden death in idiopathic giant cell myocarditis.

A rare case of idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis fatally affecting a middle-aged woman is presented. The circumstances of the fulminant and unexpected death were witnessed and reported by a relative. The confusing aspects of the ‘Fiedlers myocarditis’, the relation with more common forms of viral myocarditis and finally the medico-legal importance in the context of the sudden and natural death are mentioned.

Anaesthetic and medico-legal problems in patients intoxicated by alcohol.

This article, based upon a case report, proposes a brief survey of the anaesthetic problems encountered in patients acutely intoxicated by ethyl alcohol. During the entire period of an eventual surgical involvement, prolonged intensive care is necessary to prevent complications as the Mendelsons syndrome, respiratory depression and delirium tremens. A practical approach is proposed for the anaesthetic management of such patients.

Distribution of Fluoride in Human Bones Collected for the Evaluation of Industrial Air Pollution

Abstract Fluoride concentrations were determined in human bones in order to establish whether bone fluoride levels could be indicative of a chronic exposure to a fluoride contaminated environment. The bone samples studied were mainly obtained from thirteen post mortem examinations. In ten of these cases, the persons involved had lived in rural areas, free of any fluoride pollution (reference cases). In the other three cases, the individuals involved had lived for many years in the neighborhood of a fluoride emitting plant. In addition, an analysis was also performed on a bone fragment procured by a 71-year-old woman who underwent an arthroplastic reconstruction of the hip. This patient also had a previous history of chronic fluoride intoxication. The fluoride concentrations measured in the four suspected cases were within the limits indicated by the reference cases. As such they were not directly indicative of a chronic exposure to industrial fluoride pollution.

Insulin Murders : Isolation and Identification by Radio-Immunoassay after Several Months of Inhumation

A rather limited number of papers in the literature describe homicides or suicides by insulin poisoning. Until 1969 only about 40 had been reported (Stofer 1970) and since then very few have been added (Sturner and Putnam 1972,Stefan 1975, Dickson et al 1977, Gennaro and Van Norman 1973). Almost all cases are characterized by lack of sensitivity (bioassay methods) and of valuable quantitative data and by the fact that the experiments had been carried out on relatively fresh post mortem specimens, i.e. taken before burial.