Murder Call

The ability to determine whether an individual has fired a firearm is of great significance in the investigation of both homicides and suicides. Thus, over the years a number of tests have been developed in an attempt to fill this need. The first such test was the “paraffin test” also known as the “Dermal Nitrate” or “diphenylamine test.” In this test, the hands were coated with a layer of paraffin. After cooling, the casts were removed and treated with an acid solution of diphenylamine, a reagent used to detect nitrates and nitrites that originate from gunpowder and may be deposited on the skin after firing a weapon. A positive test was indicated by the presence of blue flecks in the paraffin. Although this test may give positive results on the hands of individuals who fired weapons, it also gives positive results on the hands of individuals who have not fired weapons because of the widespread distribution of nitrates and nitrites in our environment. The paraffin test is i...

X-rays are invaluable in the evaluation of gunshot wounds. They should be taken in all gunshot wound cases, especially those in which there appears to be an exit wound. X-rays are useful for a variety of reasons: 1.   To see whether the bullet or any part of it is still in the body. 2.   To locate the bullet. 3.   To locate for retrieval small fragments deposited in the body by a bullet that has exited. 4.   To identify the type of ammunition or weapon used prior to autopsy or to make such an identification if it cannot be made at autopsy 5.   To document the path of the bullet. Using x-rays to locate a bullet will save valuable time at autopsy whether one is dealing with a routine or a special situation. In instances of bullet emboli, x-rays are invaluable in locating the bullet. Hours of tedious dissection can be saved. X-rays are also helpful in instances where a bullet track abruptly ends in muscle and no missile is present...

M ost gunshot scenes are quite bloody. Some scenes show evidence of considerable bleeding; some essentially none. In the latter case, hemorrhaging is internal (into the chest or abdominal cavities) or is prevented by clothing. The only observable blood may be a dime-shaped area of bleeding on the clothing overlying the entrance site. Minimal bleeding around an entrance site usually involves small-caliber. Clothing may act as a pressure bandage. When the deceased is wearing multiple layers of clothing, blood from the wound may be absorbed by the internal layers of clothing so that there is no evidence of bleeding on the outer clothing. Gunshot wounds of the head usually bleed freely. This is not invariable, however. The author had a case in which there was a contact gunshot wound of the back of the head from a .22-caliber rimfire weapon whose entrance was sealed by the hot gases. There was no blood at the scene or visible on the body. The entrance was concealed by a bushy hair...