acetone in the breath of diabetics, industrial solvents in workers, cannabinoids in marijuana smokers, volatile solvents in glue sniffers, and for similar applications in industry. Jain, N. ‘I’., T. Sneath, R. Budd and W. Leung DETECTION
OF
DRUGS
OF
ABUSE
(Los Angeles, Calif ., U.S.A.)
TOXICOLOGY
Methods of analysis for drugs of abuse, together with quality control measures required to assure accurate results, are discussed. Immunochemical methods are routinely used to screen urine specimens for amphetamine, barbiturates, methadone, opiates, and where necessary; for other drugs such as benzoyl ecgonine and methaqualone. Urine specimens containing known drugs, urines with no drugs, split samples, and five randomly distributed check samples, are included with each batch of 100 specimens. Gas and/or thin-layer chromatography are used to confirm drugs. Amphetamine and methamphetamine are analyzed both as free bases on a 10% Apiezon L-10% KOH column and as their trifluoroacetamide derivatives on a 3% OV-17 column. Barbiturates are analyzed as free acids on a 10% UC W-98 column and as their methylated derivatives on a 3% SE-30 column. Opiates are gas chromatographed as their acetylated derivatives on 3% Poly-A 103 and 3% GV-25 columns, and the remainder of the acetylated extract is subjected to TLC using ethyl acetate-acetoneNH,OH (100:15:4.5) as the developing solvent. A combination of TLC/ GLC is also used for detecting drugs for which immunoassays are not available. Jakob, 0. (Zurich, THE
APPEARANCE
FOR
RECONSTRUCTIONS
Switzerland) OF
BITE-MARKS,
IMPORTANT
FEATURES,
AND
A MODEL
Bite-marks on human bodies can be of very different appearance. The characteristics depend on the localisation on the body, the thickness and the elasticity of the underlying tissue and also on the orientation of the skin’s tension-lines. The necessity of experimental bite-mark performance demands a model that simulates the different structures of the body involved as much as possible. A model constructed on the basis of already known principles is shown. Its structure is changeable and the technique using modern materials of dentistry gives adequate results. Some slides are shown as an illustration. Jakobsson, METABOLISM
S. (Stockholm, OF
POLYCYCLIC
Sweden) HYDROCARBONS
IN
THE
LUNG
Among those compounds causing cancer or malignant transformation are the polycyclic hydrocarbons. These compounds are found in cigarette smoke, in coal-tar, among the products of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, and other waste material of technology. The polycyclic hydrocarbons are metabolized via the cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase system to active intermediates, epoxides, which can covalently bind to DNA, RNA and protein. These epoxides can also be metabolized further to form phenols, dihydrodiols and conjugates with glutathione.
139
A survey of the present state of this field of research will be given, including experimental data from animals and findings in man. These findings will be discussed with regard to genetic and environmental factors involved in the formation of lung cancer. Jauhari, M., S. M. Chatterjee WOUNDING
POWER
OF
and P. K. Ghosh (Calcutta,
BULLETS
FIRED
THROUGH
METAL
India) PLATES
It may be of forensic interest to know whether a bullet could be lethal after perforating a metallic target. Such a situation can arise if the occupants of an automobile, a railway wagon, etc., are fired upon. The wounding power of a bullet is, inter alia, dependent upon its velocity. A knowledge of the velocity of a bullet after perforating a metallic target will therefore throw light on its subsequent wounding capability. With this in view, a system of two electronic timers capable of measuring the striking and the residual velocities of each individual shot has been designed. This has been used to record measurements on striking and residual velocities of rifle, pistol and revolver bullets fired at plates of aluminium, brass, and steel, measuring 2 mm and 3 mm in thickness. The residual velocity data have been used to assess the wounding power of the bullets which had perforated metallic targets, in the light of the casualty criteria available in the literature. Jehan, S. (Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia)
THE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST IN A COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY
AND
THE
INVESTIGATING
OFFICER
(1.0.)
The hand-in-hand role of the medico-legist and the law enforcement officer, from confirmation of death at the scene of the incident to expert opinion at the high court, will be described. Stages at which the co-ordinated joint efforts of the forensic pathologist and the investigating officer are essential are: (a) Scene investigation: the pathologist with his kit (containing the necessary medical paraphernalia plus a camera with flash-light facilities) and the 1.0. with his fingerprint kit, case history, etc. (b) At the Morgue: Identification, authorization for autopsy, collection of evidence (including trace evidence), handing over of the specimens (hair, nails, clothing, bullet, weapon, viscera, excreta, etc.); all forming a vital ‘link’ which should not be dismantled. (c) At the cemetery during a disinterment. (d) At the Court: identification of the 1.0. Conclusion: the investigating police officer’s obligation is to carry out instructions of the expert regarding care and despatch of specimens for special analyses, etc., in various types of medicolegal cases. Johanson,
G. (MaImo,
CANNON-BALL
IRON FINDINGS
Sweden) IN
FROM
TEETH THE
AND WARSHIP
JAWS:
ODONTOLOGICAL WASA
IDENTIFICA-
TION
OF
1628
Thirty
When King Gustaf II Adolf, one of the principal figures in the Years’ War, required a strong navy, he ordered a new flagship, the