Variations in Wounding Due to Unusual Firearms and Recently Available Ammunition (Journal of Forensic Sciences)

    1

undo the psychic trauma of 
perienced passively. In that 
preoedipal mother was dis-

do with early sexual seduc- 
lopment of normal object 
to premature sexual stimu- 
If capacity for elfective re-

on ego pathography, it is 
crs id was reigning supreme ' 
nurders, partial relationship 
sting apparatus was able to 
us own house, he knew how 
ttes, and sleeping pills. The 
u t of it completely denied, 
lot dead. He wrote notes to 
uially as if she were alive, 
ictions which were grossly 

iitrojection, projection, and 
. armamentarium which he 
ictual or id drives.
> go functioning existed long 

minor acts of violence he 
■cts were a product of early 
elopment, as well as being

lard road to preserve the self 
is an excellent example of 

hich childhood events and 
t. This case illustrates that 
nd of being sexually abused
I S .

Ihood experiences may lead 
l-proneness as a strong un- 
iimit murder when the right 
tors. The longitudinal study 
igh adulthood may provide

. iolent behavior which may 
ler structure of a person in 
idaptational points of view. 
 ̂of violence and eventually 

deliiu'd as a psychotic char-

V.J. M. DiMaio,' Major, U.S. Army Medical Corps 
and W. U. Spitz,- M.D.

Variations in Wounding Due to Unusual 
Firearms and Recently Available Ammunition

The 1960’s witnessed a sharp rise in the number of murders in the United States. 
Murders increased from 9()()() in I960 to 14,590 in 1969. While lirearms were used in 54 
percent of the murders in 1962, by 1969 this percentage had risen to 65 percent [/]. At the 
present time, almost two-thirds of all homicides encountered by a pathologist will have 
been committed with lirearms. Unfortunately, many pathologists are uninterested in 
firearms cases and handle them in a routine manner showing little imagination and having 
»s their sole aim the recovery of a bullet for ballistics examination. If a pathologist main­
tains this attitude, he will miss significiint findings concerning the weapons used. Some of 
these findings may be made only by a thorough postmortem examination.

Further complicating this situation is the fact that many pathologists are uriaware of the 
vast changes in weapons and iimmunition that have occurred in the last twenty-live years. 
Since 1946, over 55 million new and used lirearms have been purchased in the United 
States [2], Newly designed weapons of both domestic and foreign manufacture as well as 
obsolete military weapons from all over the world have been sold. Many of these weapons 
are chambered for cartridges never before seen in quantity in this country. New domestic 
cartridges as well as modilications of old familiar cartridges have also appeared. These 
facts must be realized by the pathologist when handling firearms cases.

An obstacle to the proper evaluation of gunshot wounds in general, as well as injuries 
caused by the newer weapons and ammunition, is the inadec|uacy of the standard forensic 
pathology textbooks [4,4,5]. These works not only fail to give sulficient coverage to 
firearm wounds but, in many cases are outdated 25 years or more in their coverage and 
information.

This paper will present a series of firearms cases, all characterized by an unusual aspect 
to either the wound, the weapon, or the ammunition. An attempt will be made to acquaint 
the pathologist with some unusual firearms injuries, as well as some of the recent advances 
in firearms which may be of significant interest to him. In order to limit the scope of this 
paper and because pistols are used in the majority of firearms homicides, only these 
weapons and their ammunition will be considered.

Ball Powder
In the early I930’s, Winchester introduced a new form of smokeless powder called 

“ball powder” [6]. The grains of this powder are in the shajie of small spheres rather than
Presented a t the 23rd A nnual Meeting o f  the American A cademy o f Forensic Sciences, Phoenix, Ariz., 

25 Feb. I‘171, under the title “ W ound Patterns Hue to Injury by U ncom m on F irearm s.”
•Chief, W ound Ballistics Section, Armed Fon.es Institute o f  Pathology, W ashington, D.C. 20305.
'  Deputy chief medical exam iner, Otlice o f  the Medical Exam iner, State o f  M aryland, Baltim ore, M d.

377

i"

i f ]

%
hi-



378 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

FIG . l - ( a )  Ball ponder; (b) flake  pov^der: (c) cratered base o f  bullet due to ball pomler: (d) base of 
unfired bullet.

I

the traditional Hakes or cylinders (Fig. li;, h). Many of the pistol cartridges Prod^ed at 
present by Winchester Weapons are loaded with ball powder. Examination of a bullet fired 
from such a cartridge shows the lead base to have a cratered apircarance with numerous 
little pockmarks most frequently but not invariably due to use of ball powder as a pro­
pellant (Fig. Ic). This feature was observed in the following case.

A twenty-five year old Negro male was found shot to death in a Baltimore paik^ 
large irregular shaped gunshot wound was present in the forehead. 1 here was powder 
blackening of the inner and outer tables of the skull surrounding the entrance hole. The 
irregular nature of the entrance wound in the soft tissue was due to rodents nibbling on he 
margins of the wound. Recovered from the brain was a .25 caliber, full metal-jac e e 
bullet with its base bearing the impressions characteristic of ball powder. This was further 
confirmed by the recovery of unburnt ball powder grains from the soft tissue surrounding
the entrance wound. . , r , „r̂ h.jbi<.

Since most ammunition is not loaded with ball powder, it may be important for p obabl
exclusion purposes to determine when it is used. If in this particular case, the buHe ha 
exited the body, examination of the entrance wound alone would have revealed hat b 
powder was used. If on the other hand, the gun had been fired at a distance and the bullet 
retained, examination of the base of the bullet would have shown that ball powder was 
most likely used.

Powder Patterns
All forensic pathologists are fan 

wounds and the powder strippline 
ever, there is nothing suliicientb 
The two ca.scs to be presented an 

A twenty-three year old Negro i 
beside the body. There was a com 
the overlying teeshirt. Interest wa' 
powder pattern present. Beginning 
2 o’clock positions were two radia 
than 1/2 in. wide (Fig. 2a). Becausi 
police and examined by us. Tin 
equipped with a muzzle-brake (I 1 
of gas from the barrel in an upwai 
the blackening observed.

The second unusual powder pal 
Rican male who shot himself twin 
blackening of the skin. One and 01 
small irregular area of blackcmi' 
bullets recovered from the body v 

Examination of the suicide wc. 
barrel had been reamed open. Pi 
channel otf gases when blank can 
in an upward and forward directio

DIMAIO A>

C T -

a
is ^

I
FIG . 2— (a) powder p a ttii



<ise o f  bullet due to hall powder; (d) base o f

>y of the pistol cartridges produced at 
1 powder. Examination t)f a bullet tired 
,1 cratered appearance with numerous 
\ due to use of ball powder as a pro­
following case.
.hot to death in a Baltimore park. A 
i in the forehead. There was powder 
ill surrounding the entrance hole. The 
sue was due to rodents nibbling on the 
was a .25 caliber, full metal-jacketed 
ristic of ball powder. This was further 
•rains from the soft tissue surrounding

wder, it may be important for probable 
i in this particular case, the bullet had 
id alone would have revealed that ball 
1 Ix’cn lired at a distance and the bullet 
old have shown that ball powder was

DIMAIO AND SPITZ ON UNUSUAL FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION 379

Powder Patterns
All forensic pathologists are familiar with the fouling and smudging of contact gunshot 

wounds and the powder strippling of close up wounds. In the vast majority of cases, how­
ever, there is nothing sulliciently characteristic to enable identilication of the weapon. 
The two cases to be presented are exceptions.

A twenty-three year old Negro male was found dead in his room with a .22 caliber pistol 
beside the body. There was a contact gunshot wound of the left chest with a bullet hole in 
the overlying teeshirt. Interest was immediately drawn to the shirt because of the unusual 
powder pattern present. Beginning at a point 1/2 in. from the hole in the shirt at the 10 and 
2 o’clock positions were two radially oriented powder smudges 1 in. long and slightly less 
than 1/2 in. wide (Fig. lu). Because of the curious pattern, the gun was requested from the 
police and examined by us. The weapon was a Hi Standard “Olympic” target pistol 
equipped with a muzzle-brake (Fig. 2h). The muzzle-brake operates by diverting two jets 
of gas from the barrel in an upward and forward motion. These two streams of gas caused 
the blackening observed.

The second unusual powder pattern was seen in the suicide of a twenty year old Puerto 
Rican male who shot himself twice in the chest. The two contact wounds showed extensive 
blackening of the skin. One and one-quarter inches superior to each entrance wound was a 
small irregular area of blackening and powder burning (Fig. 3). Fhe two .22 caliber 
bullets recovered from the body were free of rilling.

Examination of the suicide weapon showed it to be a .22 caliber starter pistol whose 
barrel had been reamed open. Present on the top of the barrel was a vent intended to 
channel otf gases when blank cartridges were tired. This vent directed some of the gases 
in an upward and forwaid direction causing the patterns observed.

FIG . 2— (a) powder pattern on shirt; (b) weapon equipped with muzzle break.



ii

380 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

Pi/**?' '

F IG . 3— Powder pattern on chest.

In these two aises, the weapons used at contact range caused unusual and characteristic 
powder patterns. Tentative identification of the general type of weapons used could be 
made from these observed patterns. In both cases, the observations are of only academic 
interest since the weapons were at the scene. However, the information as to type of 
weapon would be of great importance if these deaths had been homicidal and the weapons 
unknown.

Cap Firing Conversions
A zip-gun is a crude, homemade, single shot firearm [7]. Conversion of a toy cap pistol 

to fire ammunition is a major improvement over the zip-gun. Both these weapons are 
more commonly encountered in areas where there is restrictive firearms legislation as they 
can be manufactured with few tools and limited skill.

Cap pistols are usually light metal castings held together by rivets. They are converted 
to weapons by inserting a piece of car radio antenna or similar metal tubing in the barrel 
and providing a firing pin. This firing pin may be made by filing the hammer to a point or 
by inserting a nail or screw. A .22 caliber cartridge is used in this type of gun. If the 
hammer fall is too light, it may be strengthened by wrapping rubber bands around the 
frame and back of the hammer.

In the case illustrated, a 15 year old white male committed suicide by shooting himself in 
the left temple. The weapon used was a toy derringer in the upper barrel of which a portion

of radio antennae had been inserl 
about wounds produced by these 
bullet, he will find that there is a ci 
zip-guns, cap-firing conversions, ai

i’lastic Aniniiinition

With the increasing popularity o 
lively safe and inexpensive form o! 
the development of plastic ammui 
propelled only by a large pistol an 
of plastic. One of the principal m:i 
bullet is propelled over 500 ft /s [,SJ 

Tests were conducted to see how 
conducted on bodies at distances 
projectiles penetrate the body. The 
superficial circular lacerations wlv 
(Fig. 5b). These findings lend suppi 
tion. While these projectiles are n 
degree, they would be capable of pi

DIMAIO ANi

T.

rv-

F IG . 4— Contact entrance



‘ •'■V i

in chest.

nge caused unusual and characteristic 
iieral type of weapons used could be 
he observations are of only academic 
vever, the information as to type of 
had been homicidal and the weapons

rm [7], Conversion of a toy cap pistol 
I he zip-gun. Both these weapons are 
restrictive firearms legislation as they 
II.
i)gether by rivets. They are converted 
I or similar metal tubing in the barrel 
ide by filing the hammer to a point or 
'.e is used in this type of gun. If the 
> wrapping rubber bands around the

iimitted suicide by shooting himself in 
in the upper barrel of which a portion

DIMAIO AND SPITZ ON UNUSUAL FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION 381

of radio antennae had tieen inserted (Fig. 4). Externally, there is nothing characteristic 
about wounds produced by these weapons. However, when the pathologist recovers the 
bullet, he will find that there is a complete tibsence of rilling marks. This is encountered in 
zip-guns, cap-lii ing conversions, and blank-tiring pistol conversion.

Plastic Ammunition
With the increasing popularity of hand-gun shooting, there arose a demand for a rela­

tively safe and inexpensive form of ammunition suitable for indoor practice. This led to 
the development of plastic ammunition consisting of a reusable plastic case and bullet 
propelled only by a large pistol cartridge primer (Fig. 5ci). The bullet is a cylindrical piece 
of plastic. One of the principal manufacturers of this ammunition states that the plastic 
bullet is propelled over 500 ft/s [S].

Tests were conducted to see how dangerous these projectiles really are. Test firings were 
conducted on bodies at distances varying from contact to 20 ft. In no instance did the 
projectiles penetrate the body. The wounds inflicted were limited to the skin, consisting of 
superficial circular lacerations whose diameter corresponded to that of the projectile 
(Fig. 5h). These findings lend support to the claims of the relative safety of this ammuni­
tion. While these projectiles are not capable of penetrating the skin to any signifiamt 
degree, they would be capable of penetrating the eye and should be used with caution.

F IG . 4— Contact entrance wound, left temple; weapon and cartridge case.



382 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES DIMAIO A

■ i i
N C H t S

f i g . 5 - ( a )  bullet and cartridge case: (b) wound.

.22 Caliber Frangible Bullets . , „.,Ueries to prevent ricochets which
.22 caliber frangible bullets are of bonded fragments of iron

may occur with solid lead bullets. The gt al [9] reported a death resulting
or lead disintegrate on striking the ‘ ^  ^ projectile. These aut ors
^;om a penetrating wound of the head and brain from ,
conducted a series of tests with ^ showed that frangible buUjs

^7rr:» -rrrr.^The deceased had been beaten, ^^g back of the head. A f
Autopsy revealed a gunshot wound beneath the scalp. There wa no
caliber bullet weighing 25.6 ^  ^dily identified as a f ra n g i^  e
“ oetration or for ballistic comparison because

. . . r  '".rrr-'-s ris7;r s“̂ :s
The propellant is a special cartridge wh ^  gri^gntally induced stud gun injuries.

recently published a J ^ s t u d ^ g u n  injury m the literature.
They stated that they knew of no pnrpose >
I,nee then such a case has been oo^ountered^ be a stellate

A 50-year old white male was found de Alongside the body was a stud
shaped S n ,.c .  sunsho. wound of .he »? . A. .u.ops,, .her. was a
p L  conlainine a Bred .22 c.hter was no visible blackening of d«
^ r : : 7 .s 7 :  a n T s r i l ° « . l A n a i l . l , k e  s.nd fl.ed f.on. Ibis gun was • 

cove'red from the wall behind Ibe . . c n .  s bed.

All stud guns have a built-in 
be pressed firmly against a flat • 
case pressed the weapon firmly 
cussion with a worker who used 
workers have used these weapon 
hand and fire the tool with the ot

Interchangeable Cartridges
Many physicians are unaware i 

caliber. In some cases, this is inti 
An example is the H & R Model 
can fire .22 long rifle, .25 automi

FIG. 6—(a) /

1



* ! , 
^ / J

i

' V - " b
ise: (b) wound.

lleries to prevent ricochets which 
sed of bonded fragments of iron 
al [9] reported a death resulting 

n such a projectile. These authors 
d came to the conclusion that 
ts showed that frangible bullets, 
ible for ballistics comparison due

and murdered in her apartment, 
d and strangled with a ligature, 
back of the head. A flattened .22 
I beneath the scalp. There was no 
idily identilied as a frangible lead 
Ic for ballistic comparison because

luds into steel, wood, or concrete, 
from .22 to .38 caliber. Spitz and 
ntally induced stud gun injuries, 
stud gun injury in the literature.

ith what appeared to be a stellate 
.;). Alongside the body was a stud 
1 Fig. 6b). At autopsy, there was a 
e was no visible blackening of the 

stud fired from this gun was re-

DIMAIO AND SPITZ ON UNUSUAL FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION 383

All stud guns have a built-in safety device that requires a guard at the tip of the gun 
be pressed firmly against a flat surface before it can be discharged, fhe deceased in this 
case pressed the weapon firmly against his forehead depressing the safety guard. A dis­
cussion with a worker who used this type of tool in his trade, revealed that he and other 
workers have used these weapons for “plinking.” They depress the safety guard with one 
hand and fire the tool with the other. Targets have ranged from tin cans to rabbits.

Interchangeable Cartridges
Many physicians are unaware that some guns are capable of firing cartridges of different 

caliber. In some cases, this is intentional, that is, the weapon has been designed to do this. 
An example is the H & R Model HK-4, which by the changing of the barrel and magazine, 
can fire .22 long rifle, .25 automatic, .32 automatic, and .380 automatic cartridges.

■■ ' - I p
r ^  ' > f s

f - 1  ^

i-.i C

« . lie

m

F IG . 6—(a) Entrance wound in forehead: (b) weapon.



384 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

Cyrtridges may also be fired in weapons never designed to handle them with unusual 
consequences [//]. The most notorious automatic weapon in this category is the Astra 
pistol. Chambered for the 9-mm Bergmann-Bayard cartridge, this weapon has had 
various types of 9-mm cartridges fired from it [12],

More commonly encountered and of more importance to the forensic pathologist is the 
practice of firing .32 automatic ammunition in .32 revolvers. This is due to eithei a shortage 
of ammunition or ignorance. Because the .32 automatic cartridge is not truly limless but 
actually semi-rimmed, it will chamber and fire in a .32 revolver without any dilliculty [/3]. 
The following case illustrates this.

A 21-year old Negro male was shot three times during an altercation. The assailant used 
a .32 caliber revolver which was subsequently recovered. At autopsy, three bullets were 
recovered from the body. Two of these were .32 caliber full metal-jacketed bullets and 
one was a .32 caliber lead revolver bullet. If the crime had not been witnessed, the recovery 
of two different bullets would have suggested that two different weapons and probably two 
different individuals were involved.

KTW Ammunition
A new specialized form of ammunition has recently appeared on the market. I his is the 

KTW metal-piercing cartridge designed for penetrating engine blocks and the skin of 
automobiles [14], This ammunition is available in several dilferent pistol calibers as well 
as .30 carbine. The cartridges are loaded with a teflon-coated tungsten alloy bullet with a 
gilding metal half jacket on its base. This half jacket serves as a rotating band for the 
lands and grooves to grip. The .38 Special KTW is the caliber most likely to be encountered 
by the pathologist.

The KTW cartridge will present a problem to the pathologist only if he is unaware that 
the bullet may shed its half jacket in passing through a body. This jacket is necessary for 
ballistic identification as the barrel markings will be found only on it and not on the bullet 
(Fig. 7). In a test carried out by us, the bullet perforated a body going through the vertebral 
column and penetrating, to a depth of 1 in., a wooden beam behind the body. The bullet 
shed its half jacket just under the skin at the exit site. If this had been an actual case, the 
pathologist would have been presented with a perforating wound in a victim and the 
story of a bullet being recovered at the scene. If he did not do a thorough autopsy, he might 
very well have missed the jacket at the exit site and made ballistic comparisons impossible. 
X-ray films of the body, of course, would reveal the presence of the jacket.

Super Vel Ammunition
The .38 Special is the most widely used police cartridge in the United States. Recently, 

many police departments have begun to complain that this cartridge is not an ellective 
“man-stopper” [/5]. To remedy this deficiency, manufacturers have developed a new 
loading for the .38 Special. This load consists of a light-weight, semi-jacketed bullet pro­
pelled at a higher velocity. The pioneer in the development of this type of ammunition has 
been the Super Vel Corporation. They produce a .38 Special cartridge loaded with a 110- 
grain partial-jacketed, semi-wadcutter bullet, whose muzzle velocity is 1370 fps and whose 
muzzle energy is 458 ft lbs. In comparison, the standard .38 Special loaded with a 158 
grain round nose bullet has a muzzle velocity of 855 fps and a muzzle eneigy of 256 ft Tbs. 
The Super Vel bullet comes in two designs: a flat nose soft point and a hollow point.

We decided to conduct a limited series of experiments using Super Vel ammunition to 
determine whether these cartridges produced greater injury than the ordinary .38 Special.

DIMAIO AN!

FIG. 1— Fired KTW  bullet with deta,

Test firings were confined to the l 
ducted at a distance of 10 ft. Both 
were used.

The entrance wounds in the skin 
Special round. On reflecting the ski 
were seen to be at least 2 to 3 tii 
158-grain round nose bullet (Fig. 8 
struck a rib. A difference was also n 
Vel ammunition. The entrance woui 
irregular than those caused by the 
hollow point is apparently due to tl 
jacket peels back allowing the lead 

The exit wounds in the skin cam 
than those of the Super Vel soft pii 
depended on the shapic and size of II 
point bullets causing larger exit woi

Summary
The standard textbooks in forensi 

matter relating to gunshot wounds, 
topic, but they also have failed to kc' 
ammunition. An attempt has been i 
utilizing a combination of experimei

Ac know! edgmen Is

We wish to thank D. J. DiMaio. 
Brooklyn, New York City, for perm



t-ned to handle them with unusual 
upon in this category is the Astra 

cartridge, this weapon has had

ice to the forensic pathologist is the 
vers. This is due to eithei a shortage 

uc cartridge is not truly rimless but 
revolver without any difficulty [13].

ng an altercation. The assailant used 
icd. At autopsy, three bullets were 
iber full metal-jacketed bullets and 
iiad not been witnessed, the recovery 
dilferent weapons and probably two

. appeared on the market. This is the 
iling engine blocks and the skin of 
veral dilferent pistol calibers as well 
ii-coated tungsten alloy bullet with a 
et serves as a rotating band for the 
caliber most likely to be encountered

pathologist only if he is unaware that 
I'l a body. This jacket is necessary for 
found only on it and not on the bullet 
cd a body going through the vertebral 
icn beam behind the body. The bullet 
0. If this had been an actual case, the 
forating wound in a victim and the 
.1 not do a thorough autopsy, he might 
nade ballistic comparisons impossible, 
c presence of the jacket.

rtridge in the United States. Recently, 
that this cartridge is not an elfective 
iianufacturers have developed a new 
light-weight, semi-jacketed bullet pro- 
.pment of this type of ammunition has 
18 Special cartridge loaded with a 110- 
muzzle velocity is 1370 fps and whose 

.mdard .38 Special loaded with a 158 
 ̂fps and a muzzle energy of 256 ft • lbs. 
)se soft point and a hollow point, 

.ments using Super Vel ammunition to 

. r injury than the ordinary .38 Special.

DIMAIO AND SPITZ ON UNUSUAL FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION 385

FIG . 1— Fired K T W  bullet with detached h a lf jacket. Rifling m arks present on ha lf jacket only.

Test firings were confined to the thoracic region of unautopsied bodies and were con­
ducted at a distance of 10 ft. Both Super Vel hollow point ancl soft point ammunition 
were used.

The entrance wounds in the skin were identical to those produced by the standard .38 
Special round. On reflecting the skin, the Super Vel entrance wounds in the thoracic wall 
were seen to be at least 2 to 3 times the diameter of those produced by the standard 
158-grain round nose bullet (Fig. 8). This finding was unrelated as to whether the bullet 
struck a rib. A difference was also noted in the wounding ability of the two types of Super 
Vel ammunition. The entrance wounds from the hollow point bullets were larger and more 
irregular than those caused by the soft point bullets. The greater wounding ability of the 
hollow point is apparently due to their tendency to mushroom on penetrating tissue. The 
jacket peels back allowing the lead core to expand.

The exit wounds in the skin caused by the Super Vel hollow point were slightly larger 
than those of the Super Vel soft point and the ordinary .38. The size of the exit wounds 
depended on the shape and size of the bullet as it exited the body, the mushroomed hollow 
point bullets causing larger exit wounds.

Summary
The standard textbooks in forensic pathology are seriously deficient in their coverage of 

matter relating to gunshot wounds. Not only do they fail to give sufficient coverage to this 
topic, but they also have failed to keep pace with developments in the field of firearms and 
ammunition. An attempt has been made to update our knowledge of firearms injuries by 
utilizing a combination of experimentation and case presentation.

Ack no wledantcn t s
We wish to thank D. J. DiMaio, M.D., Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Borough of 

Brooklyn, New York City, for permission to use four of his cases in this paper.



386 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

FIG . V,-Entrance womuis o f  
round nose.

chest won. skin retracted. Left: Super Vet soft point, right: 158-grain lead

References .
[ ,]  Hoover, J. E., •'Crinrc in .he U .S..” Uniform Crime R ep o rts -J9 6 9 , U.S. G overnm ent Prmt.ng

Life, sta ir repo rt to the N m ional Conttnission on the Causes and 
Pm ven.ion o f Violence, U.S. G overnm ent Printm a Olhee, 1965.

a  a" ' v f ; : : ; :  m ' :  ; l l '^ e r M .n n ^ ^ U : ; h r g e r ^  C ^  Medicine, 2nd ed., Appleton-

151 O m p ^ ' p Legal Medicine. 2nd ed., W illiams and W ilkins Co. 1968.

S20-531 and 115-125, respectively.

R1 S a R  e t r S » ' £ ' ' r ) .  M .. . n J  P o m o , , .  W E . " F o .™ «  A.P«=B » f F r .n .iM .

, ,,|  E ..-^  E . , l . - E . ; r  N .n l« h a l ^
A m m unition," Journal o f  Forensic ' 25th ’cd*̂  1971 pp. 185-189.

1',]} s t i t ’w.- 1̂ : ' h . " n ^ S m U r J ^ E "  7 ; i V o .  w X ^ e r s ,  7th ed., S .aekpole Books, Harris-

[!4] lB w ,'* in ’c .,^ 1 0  C ooper-Foster Park Road Lorain,
[/5] Olt, J. R., "T he .38 Special,” Gun Digest, 25th ed., 1971, pp. 168 173.

W. Q. Stumer,  ̂ M.D., A. B 
R. S. Putnam, ^M.D., and J.

Osmolality and Othe 
in Postmortem Huma

The measurement of osmotic pressi: 
clinical investigation and is beginning 
laboratory [/-■#]. It is deiiendent on tli 
their shaix;, weight, or charge. The tl 
solution gives a good estimtitc of the 1 
tion of the osmolality. Serum osmolali 
electrolytes, particularly sodium, con 
nonprotein nitrogen, and protein sub 
The average osmolality of urine rang 
intake, and is generally higher in malt 
lality in fifty living patients was fouti' 
tended from 269 to 304 mOsm /kg [.5 
included osmolality determinations.

Specimens of vitreous humor from 
following death and have been submiti 
toxicologic determinations [S,9,/0]. 
(with the exception of potassium) ai
terminal serum concentrations and 
absence of severe putrefaction [6]. It 
our knowledge not previously reco' 
measurable factors in this medium 
nondestructive testing technique, its | 
desired studies.

Materials and Methods
Forty-five specimens were obtaim 

dispensable plastic hypodermic syring 
mately 4 ml of vitreous humor bem 
frozen in rubber-stoppered, chemtctil 
subjects involved died from variou^ I 
case of sudden death at the scene 01 \ 
fluid or medication had been termiti.

Received for ptihlictUioii 22 Dec. 1971.
' D epartm ent o f  Pathology, Universits 

Southwestern Institute o f  Forensic Scii n,i