This program discusses various types of traumatic asphyxiation including strangulation, suffocation and hanging, whereas part 1 deals with chemical asphyxiation. The program stresses the use of postmortem examination and autopsy as a means to differentiate the causes of traumatic asphyxiation. Pathological findings characteristic of manual strangulation as distinct from ligature strangulation are described. They include abrasive strangulation marks and localized evidence of hemorrhage on the neck in addition to possible cartilage fractures of the throat organs. Ligature strangulation is noted to produce compression rather than fracture of the larynx. An actual case of manual strangulation is presented. A woman's death initially reported to be due to bronchial asthma is later found by the medical examiner's office to be caused by strangulation. Another case of homicidal smothering is presented to illustrate the importance of immediate postmortem examination of the body in the undisturbed state due to the fact that anatomical evidence of suffocation may disappear in time.
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