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Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Vol. 31 No. 2, July - Dec 2014
its first stage, the invasion of polymorphs, was not with 1% aqueous eosin for 1-3 minutes and excess of stain
precisely established. Thus it could had been with in the was removed by washing with tap water. Finally before
first 24 hours, 8 hours (Fatteh, 1966) 6 hours (Mallik, 1970) mounting, the slide was dehydrated with ascending series
or only one hour (Ojata, 1969)4. The line of redness being of 50%, 70%, 90% alcohol and absolute alcohol for 2-3
a vital reaction in antemortem burns persists even after minutes duration each and then mounting was carried out
death5. Mallik (1970) described histological methods of by putting few drops of DPX (Distrene Plasticizer Xylene)
distinguishing antemortem and postmortem burns using on dried slide (slide was dried by placing it over the heater).
burns inflicted experimentally on guinea pigs, burns of Cover slips were placed with precautions taken to avoid
humans obtained from autopsy examination and burns collection of air bubbles. Then the slides were examined
inflicted experimentally in amputated human tissues2. The under the light microscope to get the information in relation
differentiation between antemortem and postmortem burn to different histopathological changes6.
is dependent upon the presence of vital reaction, as to be
seen by histological examination5. In human burns, the OBSERVATIONS
earliest histological change in antemortem burn was
leucocytic infiltration at 6 hours after burning 2 . Incidence and Distribution of Morphological Changes in
Histopathological section of the affected burn tissue with Burnt Skin
adjoining intact skin will show evidence of congestion,
Changes Present Absent
small areas of haemoorage and infiltration of
polymorhonuclears. These characteristic changes will not No. % No. %
be present in burns sustained after death. 5 Blisters 18 36% 32 64%
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Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Vol. 31 No. 2, July - Dec 2014
DISCUSSION
Histopathological findings in burnt and junctional skin
In the present study, blisters were seen in 36% cases,
pus in 54% cases, healing in 26% cases and red line of
demarcation was seen in 88% cases. (Table 1 and Figure I,
Plate E: Histopathology of Junctional Skin Plate A, B). Sevitt (1957)3 and Foley (1970)7 observed blisters
in various degrees of burns. The histopathology of burnt
skin showed the separation of epidermis from dermis and
breaking of epithelium in 90% cases, vacuolisation and
petechial haemorrages were present in 76% cases, epithelial
cells were elongated and flattened in 86% cases. (Table 2
and Figure II, Plates C, D) In the present study,
histopathology of junctional skin showed infiltration of
leucocytes and congestion in 90% cases, capillary dilatation
in 84% cases, oedema and margination of leucocytes in
74% cases. (Table 3 and Figure III, Plate E) Mallik (1970)8
Table 4: Incidence and distribution of manner of death by inflicting burns on guinea pigs observed oedema with
in burn cases congestion and dilatation of capillaries and arterioles,
margination and infiltration of leucocytes. Vacuolisation,
ANTEMORTEM BURNS No. % elongation and flattening of epithelial cells was also
Accident 42 84% observed. Cuppage et al (1973)9 observed dilatation of
capillaries and oedema. Mant (1984)10 observed separation
Suicide 2 4%
of epidermis from dermis to form blisters, elongation of
Homicide 4 8%
cells and inflammatory reaction with polymorphonuclear
POST MORTEM BURNS 2 4% leucocytic infiltration. Parikh (2002)11 describes petechial
Total 50 100% haemorrhages microscopically in a burn, skin showed
petechial haemmorages in deeper layers, epithelial cells were
84% cases of total cases that were studied were alleged flattened and stained deeply with hemotoxylin and eosin
cases of accident, 8% cases were of homicide, 4% cases and vacuolization of epidermal and dermal layers was
were of suicide, and 4% cases were of post mortem burns prominently seen. Sevitt (1957) 3 observed oedema,
where bodies were burnt after killing to conceal the crime. separation of dermoepidermal junction, coagulative
One of the cases was that of a newlywed bride whose body necrosis, vasodilation, neutrophilic infiltration and
was burnt after she died of some poison given to her by in- regeneration of epithelium in the later stages. Foley (1970)7
laws. Second case was that of strangulation whose body also observed the same findings. Ritchie (1990)12 describes
was burnt after strangulating with a ligature. An intact swelling of epidermal cells with pyknosis, oedema,
ligature was present around the neck at the time of autopsy. congestion and transitionary inflammatory reaction, lifting
(As shown in table no.4 and figures IV,V). of necrotic epidermis from dermis and re-epithelization.
Emanuel and Faber (1988) 13 describes congestion,
vasodilatation, oedema, necrosis of epithelium and its
separation from underlying dermis. The findings of present
study are in consonence with the findings of above
mentioned authors.
Manner of death
In the present study, 96% cases were of antemortem
burns and 4% cases were of postmortem burns. In
antemortem burns, 84% of accident, 4% cases of suicide,
8% cases of homicide were observed. 4% cases were of
73
Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Vol. 31 No. 2, July - Dec 2014
postmortem burns. (Table 4 and Figure IV, V) Aggarwal and 3. Sevitt S. Histopathological changes in burned skin.
Chandra (1971)14 observed 88% cases of accidental burns, Burns Pathology and Therapeutic Applications.
11% cases of suicidal burns and 1% case of homicidal burns Butterworth and Co. Ltd. 1957. p. 18-27.
were noted. The incidence of accidental burns was 8 times 4. Polson CJ, Gee DJ, Knight B. Burns. The Essentials
then that of suicide. Ganguli (1976)15 observed in his study of Forensic Medicine. 4th Ed. Oxford : Pergamaon
that accidental burns were responsible for 87.66% of the Press. 1985. p. 141-142, 322-324.
cases and 4.34% cases committed suicide by burning.
5. Mukherjee J B. Thermal injuries.Injury and its
Suarez-Penaranda (1999)16 studied two cases of homicidal
medicolegal aspects. JB Mukherjee’s Forensic
ligature strangulation with extensive burning of the bodies.
Medicine and Toxicology.Edited by R.N.Karmakar. 4th
Naralwar and Meshram (2002)17 observed majority of
Edition.2011.Kolkata:Academic Publishers.467-468.
victims sustaining burn accidentally. The current study also
shows that burn injuries are mainly due to accident which 6. Cullings CFA, Allison RT, Barr WT. Staining and
is similar to the observations of above authors. Mounting. Cellular Pathology Techniques. 4th Ed.
London: Butterworths. 1985. p. 261.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 7. Foley FD. Pathology of cutaneous burns. The Surgical
Clinics of North America 1970; 50(6): 1201-1210.
This study was based on the observations of autopsy
of 50 cases of burns, brought to Mortuary of the Department 8. Malik MOA. Enzyme Changes in the Early Phase of
of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Healing Skin Burns in Guinea Pigs. British Journal of
Amritsar, during the period from 2nd May 2004 to 19th July Experimental Pathology 1971; 52: 345-352.
2005. The salient observations that have emerged out of 9. Cuppage FE, Leape LL, Tate A. Morphologic Changes
this study are as follows: in Rhesus Monkey Skin After Acute Burn. Archives
Pathology 1973; 95: 402,405,440.
1. Histopathological findings of burnt and junctional skin
showed separation of epidermis from dermis and 10. Mant AK Death from Physical and Chemical Injury,
breaking of epithelium in 90% cases respectively; Starvation and Neglect. Taylor’s Principle and Practice
vacuolisation and petechial haemorrages in 76% cases of Medical Jurisprudence. 13th Ed. London : Churchill
respectively; epithelial cells were flattened and Livingstone. London. 1984. p. 251-253, 257-258.
elongated in 86% cases respectively. Capillary 11. Parikh CK. Thermal Injuries. Parikh’s Textbook of
dilatation was present in 84% cases. Odema and Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology. 6th Ed.
margination of leucocytes were present in 74% cases Bombay : CBS Publication. Bombay 2002. p.4.156.
respectively. Congestion and infiltration were present 12. Ritchie AC. Physical injury Boyd’s Textbook of
in 90% cases respectively. Skin was not available in Pathology. 9th Ed. Philadelphia London : Lea and
10% cases as the bodies were charred. Febiger. 1990. p. 567-568.
2. Antemortem burns were present in 96% cases 13. Emanuel R, John LF. Environmental and nutritional
postmortem burns in 4% cases. Accidental burns, 88% pathology. Company Philadelphia : JB Lipin Cott. 1988.
cases, constituted the majority of burns followed by p.303-304. South Zone Delhi. Punjab Medical Journal
8% cases of homicide and 4% cases of suicide. 1970; XX(12): 451.
15. Ganguli AC. Burns. Journal of Indian Medical
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