Narcotic deaths, part 2

Narcotic deaths, part 2

Series Title(s):
Clinical pathology series. Forensic medicine outlines
Contributor(s):
Helpern, Milton, 1902-1977
Emory University. School of Medicine.
National Medical Audiovisual Center.
Publication:
[Atlanta] : The School, 1970, made 1969
Language(s):
English
Format:
Moving image
Subject(s):
Amphetamines
Autopsy
Cannabis
Narcotics -- poisoning
Substance-Related Disorders -- mortality
Abstract:
This is the second segment of a two-part lecture about deaths from narcotic use and overdose, chiefly heroin, as seen and recorded in New York City by its Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Milton Helpern, who served in that capacity from 1954 to 1974. Photographs of overdose victims, autopsy specimens, and histologic slides are presented. The importance of making a diagnosis dependent upon the circumstances of the death and the pathological findings is stressed. The effects of repeated intravenous injections upon the veins and subcutaneous tissues are described and illustrated. The arm of an overdose patient is incised and many areas of injections are marked by hemorrhages in the subcutaneous tissues. Photographs taken of "skin poppers" are utilized to illustrate the abscess formations and abscess scars characteristic of this type of addict. Photographs are then shown to demonstrate some of the complications of narcotic addiction. These include patients with mitral valvulitis with mitral stenosis and subacute vegetative endocarditis, thrombophlebitis, tetanus, viral hepatitis, perforated duodenal ulcer, and lesions of the globus pallidus and other parts of the basal ganglia. The program stresses that material for chemical examination must be taken at autopsy from the brain, liver, gallbladder and bowel. The effects of heroin on various organs are then briefly discussed.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
021 min.
Color:
Black and white
Credits:
Milton Helpern.
Technique:
Live action
NLM Unique ID:
7600369A (See catalog record)
OCLC no.:
31671243
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/7600369A