Clinical findings in the medico-legal investigation of arsonists.
Criminal and pathological arson is often committed with the help of fire accelerants. The formation of an explosive gas/air mixture may lead to an explosion whose extent and fierceness is often underestimated by the offenders. This explosion causes typical heat changes on exposed persons: * Singeing of eyelashes, eyebrows and hair growing near the frontal hairline * Singeing of the beard * Singeing of body hair in regions not covered by clothing (e.g. back of the hand) * In severe cases, skin burns of varying degree (back of hand, face). Such heat-related changes can sometimes be detected weeks after the offence.
Bohnert
M
M
University of Freiburg, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Albertstr. 9, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. bohnert@sun11.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Ropohl
D
D
Pollak
S
S