BIOCHEMICAL-DIAGNOSIS OF THE INTRAVITAL ORIGIN OF SKIN WOUNDS

The performance of a spectrophotometric and a spectrofluorimetric meth od in the determination of histamine and serotonin in skin samples was compared. The spectrophotometric method was found to be superior in t erms of reproducibility and sample stability, so it was chosen for sub sequent use. An overall 30 rabbits were wounded at different times pri or to and after death and the histamine and serotonin concentrations i n the wounds were compared to those of control specimens. Vital wounds were found to result in increased concentrations of the amines. The s pectrophotometric method was also applied to human skin samples from 1 2 corpses showing body signs of violence.