POSTMORTEM INVESTIGATION OF SERUM MYOGLOBIN LEVELS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ELECTRICAL FATALITIES

The serum myoglobin levels of 58 fatalities were investigated with spe cial reference to correlations of the myoglobin-concentrations with th e postmortem interval, the site of blood sampling and the cause of dea th (especially concerning death caused by electric current). An increa se of the myoglobin values with the passage of postmortem time is obvi ous. The topographical sampling site plays an important role; the high est concentrations are found adjacent to striated muscles (i.e. in blo od from the heart or the femoral vein). There was no significant corre lation of myoglobin values and death by electric current.