Forensic Medicine

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step…”

WOUNDS

ByDr. SATISH VASANT

SHINDADKARM.D. Ayu.

LAWS•Injury Sec 44 IPC•Hurt Sec 319 IPC•Simple & Grievous Sec 320 IPC•Assault Sec 351 IPC•Battery, Homicide, Lawful, Unlawful,Culpable Homicide sec 299IPC•Murder Sec300 IPC•Punishment for Murder Sec 302 IPC•Attempt to murder 307 IPC,Sec321,322,323,324, 325,326•304A IPC Rash and negligent act

DEFINITION OF WOUNDS

Medical definition:Disruption of the continuity of the tissues produced by external mechanical force.

Legal definition:

Breach of the full thickness of the skin

Definition of Injury: A Wound or Injury is defined as termination of the natural continuity of any of the tissues of the living body. Any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture can be called Injury.Legally, as per sec. 44 IPC; injury is defined as any harm caused illegally to a person i.e. to his body, mind, reputation or property.

Factors which influence the mechanism of Injury or Wound:1. The amount of force applied which depends on mass of the object and speed.2. The distribution of force over the surface of the body is another factor. e.g. If large area of distribution - less damage and if small area of distribution - more damage.3. The transfer of the force through the body is a factor which contributes to the wounding power. If the wounding object is e.g. Perforating Bullet pass through and through the amount of damage is less as compared to Explosive Bullet.  

4. The resultant damage depends not only on the type of the mechanical insult but also on the nature of the target tissue i.e. Muscle, bone, hollow organ like intestine etc.5. Another important factor is the moment of the body in the direction of the force which adds up to the wounding. If the movement is towards the direction of the force the damage is less and if against the direction of the force the damage is more e.g. catching a cricket ball.

Perfect catching position

Other common wounds due to cricket ball

Classification:A. Aetiological classification

1. Mechanical

1) Abrasions 2) Contusions3) Lacerations4) Incised5) Stab6) Fire arm7) Fractures and dislocation

2. Thermal 1) Due to heat - Burns and Scalds2) Due to cold - Frostbite, Trench foot,

Immersion foot3) Chemical burns4) Radiation burns - due to x ray, UV rays

etc.5) Electric burns6) Lightening burns7) Explosive burns

Classification:A. Aetiological classification

B. Medicolegal classification 1) Depending upon severity - Simple injuries and Grievous injuries.2) Another classification - Suicidal, homicidal, accidental, defence and false3) Depending upon moment of death – Ante mortem injuries and post mortem injuries.

Accidental

Suicidal

Homicidal

Self inflecting

We can divide wounds/injuries medico legally as follows -

1. Self-Inflicted Injuries

2. Defence Injuries

3. Offensive Injuries

4. Unintentional Injuries

5. Fatal and Non-Fatal Injuries

C. Other view of Types of Injuries:

MECHANICAL INJURIES: DEFINITION: The mechanical injury is defined as “damage to any part of the body due to application of mechanical force”, like Blunt force, Sharp Force and firearms. This damage may cause loss of tissue. The injury which is associated with loss of tissue is usually mentioned to as wound.

Abrasions: ओरखडा� - अपघर्ष�ण - खरचटण� - घ�ष्ट व्रण Abrasions are injuries where there is discontinuity in the skin due to loss of superficial epithelial layer (Epidermis) only caused by a hard, blunt and rough object. These are produced as a result of blow, fall on a rough surface, slide or being dragged in a vehicular accident, finger-nails, thorns or teeth bite. When abrasions are healed there is no permanent scar.

Examples of hard and blunt objects - Bamboo stick, wooden stick, iron rod, hammer, cycle chain, items of furniture, stone, brick, shoe, fist, hand, foot, paper weight, cricket ball, handles of weapons and blunt edges etc.Examples of hard, blunt and rough objects -Rough surface, rough stick, cycle chain, stone, brick and rough handles etc.

Characteristics of abrasion - They are superficial injuries. They bleed slightly, though sometimes there may be only lymph exudation. Large abrasion may be painful and may bleed profusely. The site of abrasion is site of impact.The following are the different type of abrasions:

1. Scratches: They are produced by a sharp weapon or objects passing across the skin like needle, thorn, finger nails or pin.2. Grazes: It occurs when there is movement between the skin and some rough surface in contact. This is most common type and seen in road accidents.3. Pressure Abrasions: These are due to sustained pressure on the area i.e. crushing of the superficial layers of the skin. In this, the movement is slight and largely directed inwards e.g. ligature mark in hanging and strangulation, teeth bite marks etc.

4. Imprint Abrasions / Impact Abrasions: Sometimes, the pattern of the object is seen on the skin just like tyre marks or marks of radiator in road traffic accidents.5. Other Abrasions: Sometimes natural abrasions also occur like ‘nappy abrasion’ which is seen in infants due to excoriation of skin over areas usually covered by nappy like groin and buttocks. It may be confused with mechanical violence.6. Contused Abrasions: If more mechanical violence is used, the abrasion may be contused too, in such cases it may be referred to as contused abrasion or abraded contusion.

Medico-legal Importance:1. Abrasions may be simple in nature but medico-legally they are very important. It is usually seen in accidents and assaults. Suicidal abrasions are rare. 2. It indicates site of impact and direction of the force. 3. The age of Injury can be known; therefore time of crime can be calculated.4. Type of weapon of assault.5. Whether injury is ante mortem or post mortem.6. PM abrasion may result due to assault or due to mishandling or during shifting of a dead body.

7. In open wound dust, mud, sand etc. are usually present, which may give information about the scene of crime.8. Manner of injury may be known e.g. in sexual assaults, abrasions may be found on the breasts, genitals, inside the thighs, around the anus etc.9. Sometimes abrasions are fabricated (false or fake) either by the person himself or with the help of another person to implicate someone. These abrasions are usually on approachable parts of the body like face, hands, abdomen, chest etc.10. An abrasion on cornea can lead to blindness, a grievous injury.On drying, abrasions become dark brown or black.

Ante-mortem and Post-mortem Abrasions:Ante-mortem abrasions are seen as bleeding surfaces and show time-related changes due to vital reaction of the body. Post-mortem abrasions are commonly seen on bony prominences due to dragging of the body. The base appears white, as circulation had stopped earlier. Invariably, there is no bleeding from the post-mortem abrasion and no sign of inflammation or reparative changes are seen on the base.

Time - Age

Changes

Fresh Bright red

12 to 24 Hrs.

Abrasion surface is covered with bright red crust called scab, due to coagulation of blood

2 to 3 Days

Scab colour becomes reddish brown

4 to 7 Days

Epithelium covers the defect under the scab

8 to 14 Days

Scab dries, shrinks and falls off without leaving any mark due to the process of healing (Normal Skin)

Age Changes in Abrasions:

Contusions or Bruises:मु�का�मु�र - अं�त:क्षत�- पि च्चि�त व्रण A contusion is an effusion of blood into the tissue, due to rupture of subcutaneous vessels, usually capillaries. They are caused by application of blunt force like fist, lathi/stick, in road traffic accident hit with a hard object like stone, fall from height, hammer etc.

Characteristics - 1. Usually there is no loss of continuity of skin but may be associated with abrasions or laceration. 2. When a large blood vessel is injured, haematoma is formed. The size varies from small pin head to large collections of blood in the tissue.3. Due to the application of force on the skin, the underlying subcutaneous blood vessels rupture, this causes extravasation of blood in subcutaneous tissues. This is called ecchymosis.

4. Bruises are quite tender and swelling can be seen.5. Ecchymosis is observed over the seat of injury early where the skin is very thin as of scrotum and eyelids. Sometimes, ecchymosis is seen after 1 or 2 days if the deeper tissues are involved. 6. Sometimes ecchymosis is seen quite away from the seat of injury, e.g. in scalp. Here they may gravitate into eyelids, commonly called black eye.

Extent of ecchymosis is dependent on following factors:1. Nature and severity of force.2. Vascularity of area.3. Amount of subcutaneous fat.4. Looseness of underlying cellular tissues.5. Medical condition of the victim.6. In children, bruises are easily produced due to delicate skin. In women and old persons the bruises are easily produced as compared to young men. 7. In bleeding disorders like purpura, scurvy, haemophilia and pathological condition like leukaemia, there is a tendency to bleed more in bruises.8. Bruises are simple injuries in most of the cases. However, if a person receives multiple bruises like in severe beating as in police custody, he may die as a cumulative effect of shock due to pooling of a lot of blood in various areas.

A superficial bruise appears at one as a Bright red discolouration. A deep bruise may take several hours to two days to appear. Therefore, a second examination should be carried out two days later.

Time Changes

Fresh Bright Red

Few hours to 3 days

Bluish

4th day Bluish black to brown

5th–6th day Greenish

7th–12th day Yellowish

2 weeks Normal

The colour changes are well appreciated in fair persons as compared to dark persons. In healthy persons, changes are faster as compared to sick persons. Ecchymosis situated in deeper tissues doesn’t show changes in superficial skin.

Age of Bruise or Colour changes in bruises

Medico-legal Importance of Bruises:1. The bruises may be accidental, suicidal, or a homicidal in nature. Self-inflicted bruises are rare as they are painful.2. Actually it is simple injury, but contusion of the heart may cause death. Multiple contusions may cause death from shock and internal haemorrhage. A contusion may contain 20 to 30 ml blood or more. 3. The shape and size of bruise generally correspond to the object. So, the weapon or object can be identified. 4. The age of injury can be determined.5. In case of fall, sand, dust, mud etc. may be found on the body.6. The manner of injury may be known from its distribution.7. Bruises may be artificially produced to make false charges against someone. These false bruises are produced by irritants like juices from marking nut, root of chitrak, etc.

No

Ante-mortem bruises Post-mortem bruises

1 Colour changes present Absent

2 Superficial and deep Usually superficial only

3 Ecchymosis is more Very less

4 Signs of inflammation and other vital reactions seen

Absent

5 On microscopic examination such changes and other changes can be

demonstrated

No infiltration of leucocytes

Table - Difference between ante-mortem and post-mortem bruises:

No Features Contusion Post-mortem lividity1 Location Anywhere on the body Only on dependent parts2 Cause Mechanical forces Due to gravitation of blood in

different parts3 Surface Elevation may be seen No elevation4 Colour Different colour changes may

be seen with timeNormally purple

5 Colour Not uniform, pale at centre Uniform5 On cut

sectionExtravasation of blood seen which cannot be washed off

Blood comes out of cut vessels which can be washed off

6 Signs of repair

Reparative changes seen No such changes

7   May be ante mortem or post mortem

Always post mortem

8 Dermal Is sub epidermal Is epidermal9 Swelling Present Absent10 Size More Less with same amount of force11 Margins May be abraded or lacerated

 Usually not 

12 Margins Diffuse into surrounding Clear cut13 Microscopic

examinationInfiltration of surrounding tissues with blood cells seen

Nil

14 Enzyme Level raised Nil15 Medico legal

importance To know -

Nature of injuryType of weapon usedAge of injury

Time since deathPosition of dead bodyWhether dead body was shifted.

Table - Differences between contusion and post-mortem lividity:

NO Features True bruise Artificial bruise1 Cause Blunt trauma Usually chemical2 Site Any part of the

bodyApproachable area - exposed accessible parts of the body

3 Colour Colour changes with time

Usually fresh, dark brown

4 Shape May be according to the weapon

Irregular

5 Margins Not regular Margins are well defined and regular, covered with small vesicles

6 Local inflammation

May not be seen Local changes seen

7 Itching No Usually present8 Migration May migrate to

other areas e.g. black eye

No migration seen

9 Contents Blood Acid serum10 Chemical Test Negative Chemical may be demonstrated11 Ecchymosis Present Absent12 Type Deep or

SuperficialAlways superficial and never deep

13 Scar May be formed Keloid type scar14 Marks of

tricklingAbsent Present

Table - Differences between true and artificial bruise:

Lacerations: चि�रफा�ड - फा�टण� - Commonly known WoundLaceration is a wound in which tissues are torn due to heavy, hard and blunt force to the body. They are also called tears or ruptures. e.g. hit by lathi or blow or in road traffic accidents.  

Characteristics1. It involves injury to some deeper layers and parts of body.2. There may be fracture of bones.3. Shape and size of injury do not correspond to the weapon.4. The margins are irregular, torn, swollen and contused.5. Haemorrhage is less because in these vessels are crushed and torn across, hence they bleed less.6. Hair and hair follicles can be crushed.7. Nerves can be crushed.8. Foreign body in the form of dust, hair etc. may be present.9. Cause of death may be neurogenic shock, injury to internal viscera, fat embolism, haemorrhage, secondary infection, crush syndrome etc.10. Healing is always by scarring.

The lacerations are of following types: (a) Split: Split laceration occurs when the soft tissues are caught between hard surface inside like bone and the perpendicular force applied. Scalp lacerations are common but eyebrows, cheekbones, lower jaw etc. can be seen. These lacerations sometimes look like incised wound with naked eye examination. So, they may be called ‘incised-looking wound’. But on examination by lens, the margins can be observed. They are irregular, not clean cut as in case of incised wound. The hair follicles would be seen crushed, not cut.(b) Stretch laceration: They are due to over-stretching of tissue by tangential blunt force.

(c) Avulsions: It caused due to crushing compression of force by a weight such as the wheel of a car passing over limbs, shearing a large area of skin. The force is parallel to the body part. E.g. machinery accidents, being caught in moving belt.(d) Tears: When the body hits a hard object, it can produce tears of tissues. It results from irregularly directed impact. e.g. hit by a projected door handle of a car in road traffic accidents.(e) Cut laceration: These are produced by heavy blunt and rusted edges of weapon like gandasa.

Medico-legal Importance of laceration:1. Lacerations are usually seen in accidents and assaults. 2. Suicidal lacerations are rare, as they are painful.3. The type of laceration may indicate the cause of injury or the shape of weapon.4. Foreign matter may be found in the wound, indicate the crime circumstances. 5. The age of the injury can be determined.6. Ante mortem laceration shows vital reaction and typical findings on margins and surrounding tissues.7. These are usually grievous injury.

Age of Laceration

Time ChangesInitially Bleeding

After 12-24 Hrs. ClottingAfter 18-36 Hrs. Pus

formationAfter 1 - 2 Wks. Granulatio

n tissueAfter 4 - 8 Wks. Healing of

fractures

Incised wound / Cut / Slash / Slice wound

It is a wound produced by a sharp weapon such as knife, blade, scalpel etc. and is a clean cut through the tissue, which is longer than its depth. Characteristics1. The edges are smooth, clean cut, everted and free from contusions. 2. If an incised wound is caused by a heavy weapon like gandasa, the edges of the wound may show contusion. 3. The starting of incised wound (head) is deeper and it gradually becomes shallower and tails off towards the end. The tailing off of an incised wound shows the direction by which the weapon was drawn off. 4. If the blade of the weapon enters the body obliquely, the tissues will be visible at one margin and the other margin will be undermined (Bevelling cut).

5. The incised wound bleeds more, as the blood vessels are clean cut.6. Hair and hair bulbs are cut.7. Nerves are cut resulting in paralysis.8. Muscles and bones can be cut.9. Shape of injury is linear - usually elliptical or spindle shape.10. Width of the injury is more than thickness of the weapon, due to elasticity of skin, known as gaping of wound.11 Surrounding skin is clear.12. Healing is usually by scaring.13. Usually no foreign body is present.14. Common cause of death is excessive bleeding even in small incised wounds on wrist.

Time ChangesFresh Haematoma formation.12 Hrs.

The edges are red, swollen.

24 Hrs.

A scab of dried clot is seen on the wound. Vascular buds begin to form.

36 Hrs.

The capillary network is complete.

2 to 3 Days

The wound is filled with fibroblasts and capillary buds in from the cut surface.

3 to 5 Days

Definite fibrils are seen, vessels show thickening and obliteration.

1 to 2 Weeks

Scar is formed.

Age of incised wound - If injury is non-gaping, healing is like an abrasion and results without scarring.

Medico-legal Importance of Incised Wound:1. It indicates the nature of weapon.2. It gives an idea about the site of impact and direction of the force.3. The age of the injury can be determined.4. Position of wound may indicate mode of action i.e. suicidal, accidental or homicidal.5. The homicidal incised wounds, defence incisions are present on dorsum of hand, ulnar aspect of forearm or on the palm.6. P.M. incised wounds may be caused by the criminal to hide crime or identity.

Stab or Punctured Wounds: भो�सकाण�

A stab wound is an injury, caused by a sharp pointed weapon, when the sharp tip is thrust into the body.1. In stab wound depth is more as compared to breadth. 2. It is caused by sharp, pointed and cutting instruments such as knife, dagger, nail, needle, spear, arrow, screw driver etc. 3. Stab wounds are called penetrating wounds when they pass through tissues, enter a body cavity like thorax or abdomen. 4. A sharp, pointed, cylindrical or conical instrument may produce a wound with circular margins.5. A blunt pointed instrument may produce circular margins with laceration.

6. The depth of stab wound may be equal to or less than the length of the blade of the instrument causing it. In rare cases depth may be even more than the length of the blade as while forcing the instrument inside, the blow may depress the tissues of the part struck and the blade may reach deeper tissues. This is usually seen in stabs over the abdomen.7. If punctured wound perforates the body it is called as perforating wound, there may be entry and exit wound.8. Stab wounds have some complications e.g. infection, Air embolism, internal haemorrhage due to injuries to internal organs (External haemorrhage may be less)9. When puncture wound is hidden it is called concealed puncture wound e.g. puncture wound in fontanels, inner canthus of eye, ears etc.10. Healing is usually by scarring.

Medico-legal Importance of Stab Wound:1. Stab wounds are mostly suicidal or homicidal. Accidental wounds are rare.2. Position, number and direction of wounds may indicate mode of action i.e. suicidal, accidental or homicidal.3. The shape of the wound may indicate the class and type of weapon.4. The depth of the wound will indicate the force of penetration.5. Direction and dimension of the wound indicate the relative positions of the assailant and the victim.6. The age of the injury can be determined.

Circumstances of Incised and stab wound:1. Accidental wounds: Usually caused by - a) Fall upon a sharp edged object.b) Impact by sharp objects e.g. glass pieces.c) Unintentional cut or stab by sharp edged or pointed object e.g. knife, blade, house hold appliance etc. 2. Suicidal wounds: In most of the cases, we may found - a) Wounds are multiple, parallel, superficial in any one accessible area of the body, such as neck, wrists, groin and rarely on backs of legs or on chest. b) Suicidal cut-throat wounds are usually seen above the thyroid cartilage, the direction is from left to right. Multiple 20 to 30 wounds may be seen on the other parts of the body. The cloths are not cut and circumstantial evidence may be helpful.

c) Unintentional cuts are found on the fingers where the blade has been gripped.d) More than one method may be used for suicide.e) In right handed persons, the most severe wounds are often found on the left side of the body.3. Homicidal wounds: In it -a) Multiple gaping wounds on any part of the body including back.b) Defence wounds may be found.c) Wounds, particularly on the breast and genitals indicate sexual offence.

Injuries

Fire-arm Injuries

Forensic Ballistics is the science dealing with the investigation of firearms, and the problems arising from their use. ammunition

A firearm weapon is an instrument which discharges a missile by the expansive force of the gases produced by burning of gun powder.

Firearm injury is an injury caused by a firearm weapon.

FIRE-ARM weapon - Every fire-arm, commonly called ‘a gun’,

has a barrel which is long and hollow cylinder made of steel. The lumen of the barrel is called ‘bore’. The rear end of the barrel where cartridge is inserted or loaded is called ‘breech end’ while front end is called ‘muzzle’.

Missiles are loaded in the chamber situated at breech end. They are driven into the barrel by the detonation of explosive charges which form gases at high temperature and cause great pressure in the barrel, thus forcing the missile out of the barrel through the muzzle end.

The projectile has maximum velocity when it leaves muzzle end and it is called ‘muzzle velocity’. By pulling the trigger, a hammer or pin is released which strikes over the percussion cap of the cartridge. It fires the propellant charge which produces intense gases which carry the missile through the muzzle end.

Types of fire-arm weapons:1. Smooth bored weapons - Shot gun,

Muskets, air guns, air pistols etc.2. Rifled bored weapons - Rifles, hand guns,

revolvers, pistols.

Smooth Bored or Shotgun Weapons:These are heavy weapons carried over the

shoulder and they have a barrel which is smooth bored inside. The shotgun may have one barrel or double barrel.

These guns are usually used by police to control mob, or they are used in killing birds or small animals.

Rifled bore weapons: Rifling is a process in which spiral grooves

are cut upon the inner surface of the bore to impart rotator motion to a ballet. It stabilises the bullet and gives greater accuracy and length for the bullet to hit the target.

Cartridge - It is the ammunition used in firearms. It consists of following parts -

1. Cartridge case - In shot gun it is cylindrical 6-8 cm long. Base is of brass and the rest of it is of cardboard or plastics.

In rifled bore it is tapering, whole of it is made of brass; size depends on type of weapon.

2. Propellant - Gun powder - Propellant may be as powder, particles, pellets, flakes or hollow cylinders.

Gun powder is composed of - Charcoal - 15% - is fuelSulphur - 10% - adds densityPotassium nitrate - 75% - supplies oxygen.One gram of ordinary black powder can produce 3000-

4500 cc of gases which consists of CO, Co2, nitrogen, H2S, H2 and CH4

3. Projectile - Missile - In shot gun it is pellets or shots. They are small, round, lead pellets, usually multiple in numbers.

In rifled bore weapon projectile is single known as bullet.4. Wads - are present only in the cartridge of shot gun.

They can be made of paper, card board, hard board, plastic, cork or cloth

Factors affecting fire arm injury -1. Type of fire arm weapon.2. Type of cartridge.3. Type of projectile.4. Muzzle velocity.5. Range of firing.6. Angle of firing.7. Time since firing.8. Ricocheting of bullet.9. Part of body struck..

Range of firing and fire arm injury -Range of firing can be divided as -1. Contact firing - i) Muzzle end is in contact with the body

part (Firing up to 8 cm.) It is common in suicidal case.

ii) Missile may produce wound of entry and exit.

iii) Missile and its associates enter totally.iv) Gases accumulated in the body part and

lead to bursting.v) The wound of entry is single in both

types of weapon but the wound of exit may be multiple in case of shot gun.

2. Close range firing - Firing from 15 cm to 2 yards i.e. 6 feet.i) Injury due to missile - At the wound of

entry 3 collars (Circular injuries) is seen. The projectile i.e. bullet or pellets on hitting produce abrasion or contusion collar.

Due to oil from barrel dirt / smudge / grease collar is produced.

Due to lead particles from projectile lead collar is formed.

Associates Injury caused

Flame Burns, Singeing

Heat Scorching

Smoke and gases Blackening, smoke deposition

Gun powder Tattooing

Wads Abrasion, contusion

ii) Injuries due to associates of missile

iii) Wound of entry is usually circular, may be oval or elongated.

iv) Size of wound of entry is smaller than the diameter of missile due elasticity of skin.

v) A piece of cloth, mud or paint may be present.

vi) Wound of exit with bullet is single, with pellets - they are multiple.

3. Long range firing - Firing from beyond 2 yards i.e. 6 feet

i) Wound of entry is single with bullet and multiple with pellets.

ii) Three collars and actual wound of entry is present.

iii) Wound of exit is single with bullet and multiple or absent with pellets.

POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION of fire arm injuries -

The following steps should be taken while conducting PM of fire-arm injuries:

1. Record preliminary data.2. The photograph of front and back view is

taken without removing clothes. 3. Examination of clothes should be done

carefully by removing without cutting. 4. All wounds (with scale) on the body

should be photographed again after removing the clothes.

5. Loose bullets may be present in clothes. Entry and exit marks on clothes should be noted and described and matched with corresponding marks on the body.

6. To locate the bullet, X-rays should be taken in front and side views of the body.

7. Hand washing with nitric acid and finger nail scrapping should be preserved for detection of gun powder residue.

8. All the entry and exit wounds should be described clearly by noting their size, shape, direction and position.

9. The track of all fire-arm injuries should be clearly described in detail.

10. The bullet, if found in body, should be removed gently and sealed separately.

11. All pellets should be collected and preserved.12. Record wads which reveal the bore of the shot

gun and may also have a manufacturer mark.13. After dissection the projectile / bullet should not

be handled with toothed forceps as it will disturb or create extra markings on the surface of bullet. It should be picked with fingers or rubber forceps not washed, it is dried, marked on base, wrapped in cotton and send to FSL for further examination.

14. Specimens to save - the skin around the entrance and exit wounds should be cut out including at least 2.5 cm of skin around and 5 mm beneath the wound and preserved in rectified spirit.

Medico legal aspects of fire arm injuries -

1. Suicide by fire arm is seen mostly in males. The weapon is usually found at hand due to cadaveric spasm.

2. In case of homicidal fire arm injury - the weapon will not be found at the scene. There may be evidence of struggle. Variety of wounds can occur depending upon the circumstances. The wound is usually close range or long range type.

3. Accidental fire arm injuries are rare.

4. When wound of entry present and wound of exit absent

i) Bullet may be lodged in body tissue, bone or clot.

ii) Bullet may be thrown out through natural orifice i.e. through vomit, cough or faeces.

iii) Bullet may come out through the wound of entry itself.

5. When - During single firing, single wound of entry but multiple wounds of exit

i) Internal bullet fragmentation.ii) Bone fragmentation.iii) Contact or close range firing in shot

gun.

6. When - During single firing, multiple wounds of entry and exit

i) External bullet fragmentationii) Long range firingiii) Depending upon the posture of the

body same bullet may enter through arm, trunk etc.

Thanks आभा�र