Professor Henrik Druid, Gabriel M Fonseca,1 Esther Mora,2 Joaquin Lucena,3 Mario Cantin,4 1Faculty of Dentistry, Laboratory of Forensic Dentistry, University of La Frontera, Temuco, Chile; 2Dental Sinai Hospital & Research Center, 3Forensic Pathology Service, Institute of Legal Medicine, Seville, Spain; 4Faculty of Dentistry, Doctoral Program in Morphological Science, Universidad La Frontera, Temuco, Chile Abstract: The interaction between domestic animals and humans has not been free of conflicts, and dog attacks represent a real problem, not only for the health consequences, but also for the possible criminal, and can affect the legal or financial outcomes. This may help reduce the chance for infection. Cuts or puncture wounds that are minor may be treated at home. All the wounds (especially the puncture wounds) must be photographed and swabbed with canine-specific kits whenever possible. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Children are frequently bitten in the head and neck area because these anatomic regions are of the same height as the dogs mouth.2 In a defensive or anger bite, a dog may attempt to bite and let go showing superficial anterior tooth marks similarly to a human bite. Bitemark Evidence: A Color Atlas and Text. Carnivore bitemarks. First, apply pressure directly to the wound. Dorion RBJ. Funding was provided by Attraction and Insertion of Advanced Human Capital Program, MEC 80140078 Conicyt, Chile. Antemortem injuries may also provide alternative access points for animals. Dettmeyer RB. Possible complications from a cut or puncture wound include: Prevent cuts and puncture wounds by taking the following steps to ensure your physical safety: Last medically reviewed on October 31, 2019, An open wound is an injury involving an external or internal break in your body tissue, usually involving the skin. A laceration is a type of open wound and its causes are basically the result of the skin hitting an object or an object hitting the skin with a force it can be through-. You can learn about what data of yours we retain, how it is processed, who it is shared with and your right to have your data deleted by reading our Privacy Policy. 2nd ed. Unless more bone material is found in the future, this is the sole known evidence of crucifixion from an archaeological excavation. How did the scientists determine that there was a second victim? Borchelt et al examined most of the animals that participated in two fatal attacks and observed them under conditions simulating those that may have elicited or contributed to the maulings.5 Among the different roles analyzed by the authors, the following are remarkable: 1) the role of hunger cannot explain all patterns of dog pack attacks; 2) once the attack has been initiated, previous histories of social facilitation of feeding could have facilitated predatory behavior by the entire pack; 3) invasion of territory can lead wild and domestic canids to attack; 4) even though the majority of dogs were extremely variable in their behavior toward strangers, all the animals had unsupervised activity and aggressive social interactions with people; 5) the presence of an estrus female can lead to aggressive competition among male dogs; and 6) the visual stimulus of moving prey seems to be one of the main triggers of attack behavior. Keywords: fatal dog attack, scavenging, bite mark, dog behavior, forensic pathology, forensic dentistry. 4. 10. Figure 4 Experimental model designed for taking impressions of the dogs teeth by using an ad hoc recipient device (an adapted half bottle of plastic) and alginate.Notes: The procedure must be performed under general anesthesia in the case of living dogs. When bite marks are found, the skills of a forensic odontologist are advised. molded impression. These may enable not only the identification of the species responsible but also the individual animal. Usually, the ulcer will scab over and flake off within a few weeks. Name:_____________________________________________. Kneafsey B, Condon KC. Open access peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. 2014;83(6):12451247. 2013;58(1):224227. 2015 The Author(s). Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2011:217240. To hasten death, the victim sometimes had his legs broken (crurifragium); the resulting compound fracture of the shin bones may have resulted in hemorrhage and fat embolisms, not to mention significant pain, causing earlier death. In a sharp force penetrating injury caused by a knife, what can be learned from the wound is directionality, force, blade width, and depth. Radiating fracture lines can be used to determine the wound order because fractures stop at other fracture lines. Maybe try one of the links below or a search? What techniques were used to identify the remains? Hematoma - a blood-filled area that develops under the skin or tissue (occurring when there is internal blood vessel damage to an . 2011;32(1):5054. In fact, when a dog pack is involved, each member of the gang tears at the prey, fight over the parts, and eats the meat in a substantial quantity as quickly as possible.16 It is not uncommon for victims of dog attacks to be found naked, which may falsely suggest a rape rather than a dog mauling.2,17, Attacking incidents occur most frequently around the victims home. Cuts and puncture wounds that cause excessive blood loss or those that damage the organs can be fatal. What caused the rapid decompositions of the bodies. 2000;217(6):836840. Available from: http://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2002-6016. Synopsis. A scientific inclusion/exclusion of the dog involved is possible and also recommended because of the possible consequences for the owner of the animal. The size, shape, and distribution of the puncture marks can give an indication of the size of animal that inflicted them. A pitch fork caused the marks in the victim's bones. Ignoring Booth's ridicule of his young age and . In contrast, a cut is an open wound that produces a long tear in the skin. Fatal dog attacks have been sporadically reported, and deaths usually result from unwitnessed attacks.13 Animal interferences can happen before and/or after the death of the victim, creating artifacts and difficulties in diagnosis during the forensic examination.19 Since introducing the dog bite mark evidence in court will require the skills of different experts in the forensic sciences,8 the different steps and procedures proposed in the literature are reviewed. A ruptured spleen can be a life threatening condition and requires immediate attention. Suboccipital puncture is a procedure that was developed at the beginning of the last century. Bitemark Evidence: A Color Atlas and Text. (2015, February 4). Back to Archived Journals Research and Reports in Forensic Medical Science Volume 5, Authors Fonseca G, Mora E, Lucena J, Cantin M, Published 12 October 2015 Fatal dog bite in the absence of significant trauma: Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection and unexpected death. A blunt trauma injury can cause your spleen to rupture. Rinse the bite for 3 to 5 minutes. Properly applied, first aid may mean the difference between: All of the above. Its difficult to identify these bodies, and scavenging animals would have done further damage to the bones. The authors mentioned that it is fundamental that appropriate standards must be followed from the beginning, and a computer-generated 3D analysis does not lead to a higher degree of positiveness in determined cases. Rule No 65, published on January 31th of 2015. In the first case, nails would have been driven through the heel bones, and in the second case, one nail would have been hammered through the metatarsals in the middle of the foot. Four stages have been recommended: 1) to obtain the information about the circumstances, witnesses, ages of victims, dog breed, etc; 2) to look for footprints, environmental conditions, position of the corpse, etc; 3) to collect trace evidence, blood samples, etc; and 4) to document with photographs, sketches, diagrams, etc.2 Although the most common situation is that certain experts do not have access to the scene or that they may be able to work using only photographs or the autopsy report, information of environmental and ecological features surrounding the scene may assist in its evaluation. A compound fracture is a break or crack in your bone that is visible through your skin. If the cut is bleeding heavily and you arent able to stop it, seek medical treatment immediately. Volume 2015:5 Forensic Sci Med Pathol. We avoid using tertiary references. What caused the rapid decompositions of the bodies? 2014;10(3):401412. Clarke M, Vandenberg N. Dog attack: the application of canine DNA profiling in forensic casework. You should change the bandage daily or sooner if it becomes wet or dirty. Haglund WD, Reay DT, Swindler DR. Canid scavenging/disarticulation sequence of human remains in the Pacific Northwest. The beams gave off intense beams of radiation that caused puncture marks and lesions, with some reporting to local media at the time that it felt like a "heavy weight pushed against their chest". At the time the bone was discovered, Haas thought that the two heel bones were crossed and fixed by an iron nail. Since the back is a relatively flat surface, the animal cannot open its jaw sufficiently wide to contact the canines with the skin. Premolars and molar markings are also common since the dogs jaw can open widely.4,9, Even though in considering that there are logical distortions of the soft tissues, the more stable patterns of the bite mark should be measured as a quality control of the procedure. Behind them, there is a diastema followed by a small first premolar. Punctures often happen as a result of falling onto a sharp object, though . [29] Select an answer and submit. Although usually used for diagnostic purposes to rule out potential life-threatening conditions (eg, bacterial meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage), it is also sometimes used for therapeutic purposes . This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. His name, according to the inscription on the ossuary, was Yehohanan ben Hagkol. Available from: http://acuerdos.cl/debates/ley-de-caza-de-perros-asilvestrados-problema-ecologico-o-matanza-injustificada/. All rights reserved. Like death by guillotine in early modern times, crucifixion was a public act, but unlike the swift action of the guillotine, crucifixion involved a long and painful literally, excruciating death. A healthcare professional has 100 cc of a 2% solution. It was performed through a midline puncture below the occipital bone. Domesticated animals, particularly dogs, have provided companionship, labor, recreation, and entertainment for humans.1 However, as the result of the most diverse causes, this interaction has not been free of conflicts. Borchelt PL, Lockwood R, Beck AM, Voith VL. Javascript is currently disabled in your browser. Figure 5 Fatal attack on a mentally disabled 43-year-old man.Notes: A forensic odontologist and a carnivore biologist established categorically the diagnosis of a dog pack attack when the initial hypothesis of predation either by a very large dog or a cougar was made by the local authorities. The owners of the dog stated that there were other dogs in the area similar to theirs and claimed that it was one of those that had injured the girl. The dogs stretched and ripped the suspended victim, tightening the rope and producing a tourniquet effect. The flailing of limbs, rapid movements, high-pitched cries, and attempts at defense can increase the intensity of the attacks. 2012;23(2):146152. For the most part, crucifixion involved soft tissue injuries that cant be seen on bone. Murmann DC, Brumit PC, Schrader BA, Senn DR. A comparison of animal jaws and bite mark patterns. The December 22nd Board of Trustees meeting has been canceled due to a Winter Storm Watch declared by the National Weather Service across northern Illinois. Puncture wounds are not limited to the unexpected introduction of a foreign body. Consider the extent of secondary fracturing with respect to where on the bone this is located. Spanish. 3.Why was the irregular shape to the sternum of the two victims significant in the case. Accessed July 7, 2015. Then, lift the injured area up to the level of the person's heart. Dont attempt to wash a puncture wound. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Both a puncture site with faulting and part of . molded impression. A puncture is a small hole caused by a long, pointy object, such as a nail or needle. All these features make them highly hazardous, especially to vulnerable people.4,13, Dogs incline to drag their preys down and then maul. The latter is particularly the case where the person dies indoors or in an enclosed space in which the suspect animal is also confined.28. Many people accidentally get puncture wounds with household or work items, yard tools, or when operating machinery. software development by maffey.com a. In 1968, archaeologist Vassilios Tzaferis excavated some tombs in the northeastern section of Jerusalem, at a site called Givat ha-Mivtar. Why did the murderer move the body to the V.A. Why was the irregular shape to the sternum of the two victims significant in the case? Registered in England and Wales. [29] Select an answer and submit. Off Bull State. These patterns allow the discrimination with bites of other species, which are not accompanied by shaking nor by the usage of canines, and with stab wounds caused by sharp weapons.2,4,8,13 Animal hair is occasionally found inside the wound.30 In cases with numerous wounds to the face, it has been recommended to take a cranial X-ray to check for bone fractures and the presence of foreign bodies.23, Canids leave typical postmortem damage patterns on the bones, characterized by rounded punctures, peg-like penetrating injuries, and shallow scratches. Number 3099067. Septic shock, craniocerebral trauma, envenomation, anaphylaxis, or, less frequently, pulmonary embolism after cellulitis have been described as fatal consequences of a dog attack.2,6,13, From an ethological point of view (a focus on animal behavior under natural conditions), recognized functional responses and its behavioral parameters (capture rate and handling time) interact to determine the outcome and dynamics of the predatorprey interactions.18 The extent of the damage is related to the vulnerability of the victim: young children, the elderly, and disabled persons have the highest mortality rates because of their weakness, defenselessness, and smaller body sizes.28,17 When dogs are part of a group, the pack instinct motivates to escalate the attack.7,16 The threat associated will be equivalent to the number and size of dogs and underlines the relevance of the victims weakness.2,16,17 If the prey is taller, attacking canids try to immobilize it by hitting at the buttocks and limbs; once the victim has been brought down, dogs will attack him or her until he or she stops moving. Bullets move in a straight line through the body, except when they hit a bone. 1. Clean the wound. What is a bone fracture? In 1992, Opeskin and Lee reported a case of a man who died from blunt throat trauma consistent with infliction by the head of a Greyhound dog.36 The key was the identification of an unprovoked and aggressive attitude toward the victim, and the resulting attack with fatal consequences. Crepitus is used to describe a popping or crunching sound caused by bone or tissue rubbing, or the release of air from joint damage, infection, or puncture wounds. 1992;56(1):5157. All of the analyzed bonesincluding 22 bone fragments and three teethdisplayed evidence of trauma likely caused by arrows "at or around the time of death," according to the statement. Death by greyhound. Rothschild MA, Schneider V. On the temporal onset of postmortem animal scavenging. The cause of death was attributed to internal hemorrhage as a consequence of multiple fractures and external hemorrhage. Dogs, cats, and kin: a molecular species-level phylogeny of carnivora. Sometimes in the hand, sometimes in the nose cavity, or the foot, these minute metallic objects are of unknown substance and would appear to be some kind of tracking device. If a histological vital reaction is detected, it can be assumed that the victim was alive for some time in an incapacitated state prior to death and that death did not occur rapidly.34 Salem et al reported a case of an epileptic 27-year-old woman found dead in her home.3 The victim had extensive lesions on her neck produced by her mixed-breed dog. Bitemarks can provide useful evidence in cases of assault (particularly in cases of Non Accidental . Available from: http://www.leychile.cl. (2010, December), Mayo Clinic Staff. What techniques were used to identify the remains? Severity of injuries depends on multiple factors, including the type of weapon and bullet and the affected body area. 2010;54(3):726745. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2010;31(2):198199. Without a nail in place, it becomes more difficult to tell crucifixion from animal scavengers puncture marks. It was designed to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes as an alternative to lumbar puncture. Puncture wounds to the feet are a particular concern. First, attempt to stop the bleeding by covering the wound with a clean bandage and applying gentle pressure. What techniques were used to identify the remains? Oxford: Academic Press. An appropriate forensic approach must include detailed assessment of the scene, the victim, and the animals involved. Puncture wounds can easily become infected. Immediately upon excavation, Tzaferis noticed a 19cm nail that had penetrated the body of the right heel bonebefore being driven into olive wood so hard that it bent. Traditionally, anthropologists have evaluated SFT observed on bone and cartilage through microscope analyses by describing features of the mark and associating them with a type or an individual tool. A puncture wound, such as from stepping on a nail, doesn't usually cause much bleeding. You can learn about our use of cookies by reading our Privacy Policy. 2008;10(6):301305. Within this rather wealthy 1st century AD Jewish tomb, Tzaferis came across the remains of a man who seemed to have been crucified. Image courtesy of Monica Hernandez, MD, Municipal Emergency Hospital of Cordoba, Argentina. Fonseca GM, Palacios R. An unusual case of predation: dog pack or cougar attack? Q&A. Q&A. Stab wounds are incised wounds where the length of injury on the surface is less than the depth of penetration into the body, and are the result of a thrusting action, where the force is delivered along the long axis of a narrow, pointed object. 6. Use tweezers that have been cleaned with alcohol to remove debris on the surface of the cut. Common items that cause puncture wounds are nails, knives, bones and wood. One of the most bizarre, and indeed disturbing aspects of the UFO and alien phenomena is the discovery in many victims of alleged alien abduction of small implants in their bodies. Immobilize the limb but do NOT restrict blood flow unless you are . Int J Legal Med. Even though family members claimed that an alligator attacked the child, the forensic odontologist confirmed the primary diagnosis: the three family pit bulls mauled and killed her.1 Even though most fatal animal attacks are caused by large animals where the size and power of that animal simply overpower the individual,20 an exhaustive analysis of the scene, feces, hair, footprints, and claw marks is always recommended; the collection of biological samples from the wound margins can allow the confirmation of the species involved through species diagnostic markers.10,17,2123 The location of the damage along the body and the familiarity of the pathologist with different patterns of animal behavior can be of paramount importance in the correct assessment of the offending animal.19,24 At this point, outdoor and indoor interferences have specific considerations of which to be aware.12, If animal predation happens outdoors, the environmental status, meteorological conditions, local fauna, seasonal and diurnal variations, and an animals feeding and behavior patterns are important issues to be explored.19 In a case of a 65-year-old man found dead with severe and unusual injuries, Kiuchi et al identified six different species as the offending animals.22 Even though dogs are the primary scavengers in certain outdoors contexts,21 they were excluded because of the absence of specific patterns of damage.22 Studies of dog behavior suggest they scavenge remains when they are nearly fresh and soft tissue reduction can be quick (Figure 1). We offer real benefits to our authors, including fast-track processing of papers. Agnarsson I, Kuntner M, May-Collado LJ. 2007;173(1):7882. Complications of cuts and puncture wounds, familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-cuts-scrapes-and-stitches.html, mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cuts/FA00042, mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-puncture-wounds/FA00014, Treating a Cut Finger Injury, and When to See a Doctor, Achilles Tendon Rupture: Symptoms to Look For, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, Ruptured Spleen: Symptoms and Treatment in Adults and Children, stepping on a sharp object, such as a nail, drainage, such as pus, from the wound site, warmth or swelling in the surrounding area, the bleeding is heavy, spurting, or doesnt stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure, feeling and function are impaired in the area of the cut or wound, you havent had a tetanus shot in 10 years, the cut or wound occurred due to a fish hook, the cut or wound shows the symptoms of infection, such as swelling around the site, throbbing pain, or fluid leaking from the cut or wound, a loss of function in the area of the wound. 6. Sharp force trauma (SFT) is produced by a tool that is edged, pointed or beveled [ 1 ]. Bones - Episode 4, Season 3 "The Secret in the Soil", In no particular order, find the answers to these questions in the. Several drag marks and an oblong perforation are also present on the left side of the frontal squama, as well as scraping drag marks close to bregma. Small dogs and larger dogs can be discriminated according to the intercanine distance.8 In cases of only bone remains with deep bites, the most accurate point to measure is the mesial bone height.32 The inclusion of a metric reference in the photographs will allow metric evaluations and calibrations by using an appropriate software.3,8 Bernitz et al suggest to avoid the problem posed by the length of the canines in the match of the dogs teeth with the cast of the bite mark, by lengthening and shortening their indentations in both duplicate models of the bite to correspond them when analysis is performed. Note the scalloped borders of the stretched skin representing the bite action of the dogs. But the media seems to be indifferent (and certainly negligent) on this point. Neck wounds are usually slanted perpendicularly to the neck and positioned in an anteroposterior direction. The Romans practiced crucifixion literally, fixed to a cross for nearly a millennium. After that, a comparison between the bite marks of the cutaneous samples and the dental casts was made. A pack of five dogs (four of them mixed breeds of German Shepherd and a Labrador mix) was known to demonstrate aggressive behavior and to have lived in the neighborhood. To identify the responsible dogs among the seven, a dental cast of each dog was prepared and superimposed on the victims wound samples collected at autopsy. Sharp-force Trauma Technically, sharp-force trauma is blunt-force trauma applied to a very small area, but, instead of causing fracture, it usually causes incision, puncture/stabbing, and chopping/hacking injuries. Death had occurred several days before the body was found. Ministry of Agriculture. Specific patterns of canine scavenging in indoor settings. How did the scientists determine that there was a second victim? First aid is intended to: Provide temporary assistance until competent medical care, if needed, is obtained. The Roman orator Cicero noted that of all punishments, it is the most cruel and most terrifying, and Jewish historian Josephus called it the most wretched of deaths. So crucifixion was both a deterrent of further crimes and a humiliation of the dying person, who had to spend the last days of his life naked, in full view of any passersby, until he died of dehydration, asphyxiation, infection, or other causes. Domestic dogs are recognized but unappreciated scavengers;38 when an individual dies from natural (or not animal dependent) causes, he or she becomes part of the ecological cycle and the animal may simply view the body as a source of nutrition leading to postmortem depredation with obvious but grotesque changes and mutilations.20 This apparently simple assertion may not be sufficiently interpreted by the authorities, and the dog is unjustifiably destroyed (Figure 2). Many people get puncture wounds by accident from household items, work items, or yard tools or when operating machinery. it may have penetrated the bone and requires medical care. Odontological analysis of bite marks may provide conclusive evidence in identifying a particular animal.3,31 While in the presence of multiple animal bites, it is difficult to apply a bite mark protocol that would record every wound individually, take impressions, and remove all of the affected tissue,1 the guidelines provided by the American Board of Forensic Odontology (http://www.abfo.org) for human bite mark analysis may be useful in the implementation of the photographic protocol and in the improvement of the quality of the expertise, resulting in more strong dog identification.16 Souviron recommends taking black-and-white, color, or alternate light photographs and video documentation. His skeleton points to moderate muscular activity, but there was no indication that he was engaged in manual labor. 2011;7(4):309310. In cases of carnivore interference, the wound margin of injuries appears less regular and usually rounded, with scratch-type abrasions resulting by the action of claws. Stiegler D, Gilbert JD, Warner MS, Byard RW. Dove Medical Press is a member of the OAI. Copyright 2017 Informa PLC. 2013;20(6):763766. What caused the puncture marks on the victim's bones? Motivation of the animal. 6. Thus, hanging was found out to be second most . Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine 1. Finally, the victim was dismembered and scattered. Int J Legal Med. What caused the rapid decompositions of the bodies. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 8. Essential Forensic Biology. 1) Trauma that occurred at time of death, before death or postmortem 2) Force that caused trauma; 3) Number of wounds; 4) Sequence of wounds, if multiple wounds; 5) Placement of wounds. Why did they originally suspect the tobacco farmer? 2007;28(2):131136. We also retain data in relation to our visitors and registered users for internal purposes and for sharing information with our business partners. A cut, or laceration, is a tear or opening in the skin that occurs due to an external injury. (Public domain image by S. Rubn Betanzo via wikimedia commons. Factors that prompt the person to 1) stop breathing and 2) the heart to stop beating. Definition / general. Pits are indentations that are inflicted by any of the teeth when grasping onto bone, whereas score marks result when the teeth are dragged along the surface of the bone. Knives have a handle, and at the end of that handle is what is called the hilt. ice pick, knives, axes, meat cleavers), Force delivered over a wide area; caused by anything other than a cutting or chopping instrument, 1) Blunt; 2) Sharp; 3) Projectile; and 4) Miscellaneous, Injury caused by that has a wide area of impact on bone, Compression, Bending; Shearing (occasionally), Discontinuity and fracture lines; simple and comminuted fractures; caused by any hard surfact, Usually caused by cutting and chopping instruments; Dismemberment and animal scavenging; When force applied perpendicular and down - puncture wounds; usually infractions, Complete discontinuities with displacement and fracture lines; bullets, arrows, and spears, Dynamic speed of force for projectile trauma, Anything that is not blunt, sharp, or projectile; strangulations, burns, chemicals, explosions, heat, 1) Antemortem; 2) Perimortem; 3) Postmortem, Trauma already starting to heal; porosity; rounding of edges; presence of callus, Will not exhibit signs of healing; can have green bone response, 1) Sharp edges; 2) Hinging; 3) Formation of fracture lines; 4 ) Broken ends with angled jagged surface 5) staining from hematoma, Between time of death and discovery of body.