Citation

Weiler G, Reh H. Blutalkohol 1974; 11(6): 402-408.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The ethanol content of the whole blood obtained from the femoral vein from 100 decomposed human cadavers was determined gas chromatographically. The material was divided into 4 different decomposition and blood alcohol groups. In 30 out of 32 cadavers with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.6(per mille), there was confirmed evidence of alcohol consumption. This group could not be classified with that below 0.6(per mille). In 68 cadavers, the blood alcohol concentration was less than 0.6(per mille). In this group, there were only 4 cases where suspected intake of alcohol could not be absolutely ruled out. The statistical calculation of mean, standard deviation showed a significant dependence on the degree of decomposition. It was found that only a maximum of 0.5(per mille) ethanol can be simulated endogenously by the decomposition of the cadaver. At higher gas chromatographic values, the water content of the blood sample must also be determined, and the ethanol concentration found correspondingly corrected. (26 references).