SUDDEN INFANT DEATH - CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF VITREOUS HUMOR

• NCJ Number: 12088
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1973) Pages: 12-19
• Author(s): W Q STURNER; J L DEMPSEY
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article

Annotation

EXAMINATION OF THE TERMINAL CHEMICAL STATE OF THE BODY IN SIXTY-SEVEN CASES OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS.

Abstract

THE CASES WERE PLACED IN THREE GROUPS RELATIVE TO THE CAUSE OF DEATH AND VITREOUS HUMOR CHEMICAL ANALYSES WERE PERFORMED IN EACH CASE. ASPHYXIAL DEATHS SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT VARIATIONS FROM NORMAL CONCENTRATIONS. CASES WITH CONFIRMED CAUSES OF DEATH HAD CHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN MANY INSTANCES WHICH WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HISTORY AND AUTOPSY RESULTS. IN THE TWENTY-TWO UNDETERMINED DEATHS, THERE WERE SIX INSTANCES OF ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE WHICH INDICATED THE PROBABLE MECHANISM OF DEATH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)