Significance of various analytical methods with reference to the causes and manners of death in alcoholics

It was the aim of the present investigation to apply a broad spectrum of an alyses to forensic autopsies of alcoholics in order to estimate the signifi cance of the various analytical methods with reference to the cause and man ner of death. The analyses were performed on a consecutive series of 73 med ico-legal autopsies in alcoholics. Both extensive histology as well as toxi cology and microbiology were used. The microbiology did not contribute subs tantially to the determination of the cause of death, while histology was d ecisive in six cases. Toxicology analyses were necessary for determining th e cause of death in 37 cases. The results of the investigation may help in the selection of analytical priorities. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland L td. All rights reserved.