Abstract
Reports1–3 of the use of electrical torture are usually denied, so that there is an urgent need of diagnostic methods to distinguish the consequences of electrical torture from other superficial injuries. The ‘electrical group’ of Anti-Torture Research (ATR) has accordingly studied the possibility of distinguishing between the sequelae of electrical and heat injury. Among the reported differences4–6 of the two types of injuries is the occurrence in epidermis, vessel walls and sweat glands of vesicular nuclei exclusively in electrically injured skin. On the basis of experiments with anaesthetized pigs, we now report that the late sequelae of electrical injury appear to include the deposition of calcium salts beneath the area of an electrical cathode.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amnesty International Report on Torture (Duckworth, London, 1975).
Kjaersgaard, Aa. R. & Genefke, I. K. Ugeskr. Laeg. 139, 1057–1059 (1977); in Evidence of Torture (Amnesty International Publications, London, 1977).
Cathcart, L. M., Berger, P. & Knazan, B. Can. med. Ass. J. 121, 179–184 (1979).
Danielsen, L. et al. Forensic Sci. Int. 12, 211–225 (1978).
Aalund, O. Acta med. legalis socialis 30, 33–41 (1980).
Thomsen, H. K. et al. Forensic Sci. Int. 17, 133–143 (1981).
Nielsen, K. G., Nielsen, O. & Thomsen, H. K. Forensic Sci. Int. 17, 203–209 (1981).
Dahl, L. K. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 80, 474–479 (1952).
Reynolds, E. S. J. Cell. Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963).
Watson, M. L. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol. 4, 475–485 (1958).
Johnson, E. & Otkjaer-Nielsen, A. Proc. 7th Eur. Congr. Electron Microscopy, The Hague, 1980 Vol. 2 (eds Brederoc, P. & de Priester, W.) 416–417 (1980).
Otkjaer-Nielsen, A., Johnson, E., Hentzer, B., Danielsen, L. & Carlsen, F. J. invest. Derm. 69, 376–378 (1977).
Hentzer, B., Nielsen, A. O. & Johnson, E. Br. J. Derm. 102, 675–685 (1980).
ASTM Inorganic Index to the Powder Diffraction File, Powder Diffraction Index Set 17i (ASTM, Philadelphia, 1967).
Clendenning, W. E. & Auerbach, R. Archs. Derm. 89, 360–363 (1964).
Sneddon, I. B. & Archibald, R. Mcl., Br. J. Derm. 70, 211–214 (1958).
Hogan, V. M. & Conway, H. Plastic and Reconstructive Surg. 33, 559–563 (1964).
Roth, C. S. I., Stowell, R. E. & Helwig, E. B. Archs Path. 76, 44–54 (1963).
Woods, B. & Kellaway, T. D. Br. J. Derm. 75, 1–11 (1963).
Hashimoto, K., Nelson, R. G. & Lever, W. F. J. invest. Derm. 46, 391–408 (1966).
Cornelius, C. E., Tenenhouse, A. & Weber, J. C. Archs. Derm. 98, 219–229 (1968).
Danielsen, L. Acta derm. Suppl. 83, 1–79 (1979).
Greenebaum, E. Hum. Path. 11, 287–289 (1980).
Winkelmann, R. K. & Keating, F. R. Jr, Br. J. Derm. 83, 263–268 (1970).
Putkonen, T. & Wangel, G. A. Dermatologica 118, 127–144 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karlsmark, T., Danielsen, L., Thomsen, H. et al. Tracing the use of torture: electrically induced calcification of collagen in pig skin. Nature 301, 75–78 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/301075a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/301075a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.