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Chapter-14 Thermal Injuries

BOOK TITLE: Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Author
1. Biswas Gautam
ISBN
9788184487176
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/10737_14
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2010
Pages
13
Author Affiliations
1. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India, Dayanand Medical College , Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, E-mail: forensicdmc@gmail.com
Chapter keywords

Abstract

This chapter discusses various aspects of Thermal Injuries, the Tissue injury caused due to application of heat or cold in any form to the external or the internal body surfaces. Thermal injuries can be classified as cold injury, heat injury, heat hyperpyrexia or heat stroke, and burns. Heat ruptures are splits occurring in the skin due to contraction of the heated and coagulated tissue, and the resultant breaches may simulate incised or lacerated wounds. Presence of carbonaceous or soot particles in the respiratory tract and cherry red discoloration of blood due to carbon dioxide confirm burns as cause of death. High tension injuries can be caused by three sources, the flash, flame or the current, the myocardium may be damaged directly with onset of heart failure or there may be instantaneous death. Joule burn marks are round or oval or irregular, chalky white shallow craters, from few millimeters to 1-1. 5 cm in diameter and have a raised border of about 1-2 mm around, part or the whole circumference.

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