Forensic Pathology for Police - Brainshare Public Online Library

Disc Image Legends 297
wasps), snakes and other reptiles, and numerous aquatic animals. Numerous plants
and fungi contain natural toxins. Besides those that have already been presented
above, examples include hemlock, holly, jimsonweed, mistletoe, nightshade, poinsettia,
and pokeweed. Ricin, from castor beans, is discussed in Chapter 21, along
with other potential “terror agents”.
Disc Image Legends
Disc Image 11.1 In certain drug-related death scenes, there may be little or no
indication that drug use played a role in death.
Disc Image 11.2 Careful evaluation of the entire death scene, including areas away
from the immediate vicinity of the body, may reveal evidence of drug/toxin
exposure.
Disc Image 11.3 Drug paraphernalia found in the clothing of an overdose victim at
autopsy.
Disc Image 11.4 Needle tracks and injection sites may be masked by tattoos, as in
the example shown.
Disc Image 11.5 Another example of needle tracks.
Disc Image 11.6 Skin-popping scars.
Disc Image 11.7 Recent superficial wrist incisions in a suicidal overdose victim.
Disc Image 11.8 Vomit which is discolored yellow from the pills that were
intentionally ingested in this suicide victim.
Disc Image 11.9 Pill dye (pink-red) on the clothing of an overdose victim.
Disc Image 11.10 The belly of an obese individual who had a rather unique
hiding/storage place for his crack cocaine (see Disc Image 11.11).
Disc Image 11.11 Crack cocaine hidden/stored in the fold of skin/tissue underlying
the sizeable anterior abdominal wall of the individual shown in Disc Image 11.10.
Disc Image 11.12 A long little fingernail, presumably utilized by the decedent
during life for delivering powder forms of various drugs to the nostrils.
Disc Image 11.13 Gastric (stomach) mucosa (lining) discolored green by the pills
used in an overdose.
Disc Image 11.14 Focal green discoloration of the intestines in a case where greencolored
pills were used in an overdose.
Disc Image 11.15 Brain swelling in an overdose. This finding is “non-specific,”
meaning that it can occur in a variety of other situations, not just in overdoses.
Disc Image 11.16 Postmortem bleeding in the lateral (side) aspects of the neck
region, secondary to attempting to collect blood from the subclavian blood vessels.
Such bleeding can cause difficulties in attempting to document the presence
or absence of subtle neck injuries.
Disc Image 11.17 Urine collection at autopsy.
Disc Image 11.18 Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection at autopsy, by internal
approach. After the organs of the trunk have been removed, and before brain
removal, CSF can be withdrawn by an anterior (front) approach, using a needle
inserted into the spinal canal through an intervertebral disc.