NCJ Number
28132
Journal
PWC BULLETIN Volume: 74 Issue: 7 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 4-5
Date Published
1974
Length
2 pages
Annotation
IN THIS COMMENTARY BY DR. DEMAIO OF THE SOUTHWESTERN INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, INCONSISTENCIES IN TWO BULLET STUDY RESULTS ARE EXPLAINED AND TEST RESULTS OF BULLETS FIRED INTO GELATIN BLOCKS ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
WITH RESPECT TO STUDIES OF BULLET EXPANSION, IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT A 20 PERCENT GELATIN CAN BE SUBSTITUTED FOR HUMAN TISSUE, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO COMPARE THE WOUNDING CAPABILITY OF DIFFERENT CALIBERS AND TYPES OF CARTRIDGES. IT IS STATED THAT DIFFERENCES IN TEST RESULTS OF DR. DEMAIO'S STUDY FROM THOSE OF ANOTHER STUDY BY DR. CHARLES G. WILBER ARE DUE TO THE MEDIA USED IN TESTING THE BULLETS, SINCE ONE STUDY USED 20 PERCENT GELATIN AND THE OTHER USED PRESSED NEWSPAPER AND DUXSEAL. RESULTS OF TESTS USING A 20 PERCENT GELATIN MIXTURE ARE COMPARED TO FINDINGS ON BULLETS REMOVED FROM BODIES. THE RESULTS OF THIS COMPARISON SUPPORT THE CONTENTION THAT 20 PERCENT GELATIN AT 10 DEGREES CENTIGRADE IS EQUIVALENT TO HUMAN SOFT TISSUE.