need to know something fast please!!!

[y2kwht150]

We have quiz coming up this week and I was tolded we need to have rough idea what "styphyling" (don't think I spelled it right) in regards to powder burn??? Anyone have any idea what it means. This topic came from my criminal investgation class. thanks for any help.

[Tim Dees]

We have quiz coming up this week and I was tolded we need to have rough idea what "styphyling" (don't think I spelled it right) in regards to powder burn??? Anyone have any idea what it means. This topic came from my criminal investgation class. thanks for any help.

I'm guessing you mean "stippling." Stippling is the unique pattern of powder burns that occur when a gun is fired at very close range (a few inches or less) at a surface. An "execution-style" gunshot to the back of the head or a suicide shot with the gun pointed at the head would be likely to produce stippling. The absence of stippling indicates that the gun was fired from further away. The name comes from a painting technique where the artist creates the image from tiny dots of paint, rather than with a more continuous brush stroke.

You can see some examples of stippling here.

[y2kwht150]

thank you very much, I knew someone knew what I meant....

[SgtCHP]

We have quiz coming up this week and I was tolded we need to have rough idea what "styphyling" (don't think I spelled it right) in regards to powder burn??? Anyone have any idea what it means. This topic came from my criminal investgation class. thanks for any help.

DETERMINING RANGE OF FIRE Return to TOC

The second major external determination of a gunshot wound is the estimation of range of fire. Range of fire is an estimate of how close the muzzle of the gun was to the surface of the victim's body or clothing at the time of discharge.8 This determination is usually made by an unaided visual inspection for the presence or absence of substances that exit the muzzle of the gun along with the bullet with consideration of the circumstances of the shooting.9 Depending on the range of fire, these substances can be deposited on the skin or clothing. If the muzzle of the gun is in contact with the skin, these substances may be deposited within the wound or, if the muzzle is in very close proximity to the skin, around the entrance wound. In general, substances exiting the barrel of a gun along with the bullet will be deposited on the skin if the muzzle is within 2 feet of the victim's body.

The principle indicator of close range fire is stippling, that is, a pattern of tiny, punctuate abrasions in the skin surrounding the entrance wound (Figure 8 ). Stippling is caused by unburned particles of gunpowder striking the skin. In contrast to other substances that may be deposited on the skin, such as soot, stippling cannot be washed away. The presence of stippling indicates that the muzzle of the gun was within 2 feet of the victim's body when it was discharged. Contact range firing occurs when the muzzle of the gun is in contact with the skin at the time of discharge (Figure 2 ). Contact range wounds are commonly seen in suicidal firearm injuries. These wounds are often characterized by a dense pattern of combusted gunpowder residue or soot within and around the wound margin. Soot is lighter in weight than unburned particles of gunpowder. Most of the soot will, therefore, only carry a few inches from the muzzle of the gun before falling away. Unlike stippling, soot may be washed away. If a forensic pathologist sees soot, he or she should photograph it before cleaning the body in preparation for the autopsy. Contact range gunshot wounds are no exception to the general rule that entrance wounds have a margin of abrasion, but the margin of abrasion in a contact wound may be seared or charred. There may also be red discoloration of the surrounding skin from carbon monoxide, which is a component of the gases discharged from a gun when it is fired. A muzzle imprint is not an uncommon finding and is virtually pathognomonic of a contact range gunshot wound. As noted earlier, stellate patterns of tearing, especially over bony surfaces, are not unusual.

Distant range gunshot wounds, that is, wounds inflicted when the muzzle of the gun is more that 2 feet away, will show no evidence of soot or stippling. It is absolutely critical that the forensic pathologist recognizes that the absence of soot or stippling does not absolutely mean that the wound was not fired from close range. Intermediate targets and clothing can screen out stippling and soot even when the muzzle of the gun is pressed up against the clothing.10 The most accurate way to determine range of fire is to test fire the weapon at various distances with the same type of ammunition to create a pattern of soot or stippling matching that found at the time of autopsy. Muzzle to garment testing, as this technique is sometimes called, is ordinarily done by a ballistics expert in a crime laboratory. Clothing can also be tested for the presence of gunpowder residue to determine whether, for example, a bullet caused a particular defect in the clothing. This type of testing cannot establish range of fire, but it can give the maximum distance from which the gun was fired based on the distance the gunpowder residue may travel.

[ray8285]

I have a question....if this is part of a class then I would assume it appears either in your text or part of a handout. Why are you asking us instead of reading about it?

[Slowing-Dee]

I have a question....if this is part of a class then I would assume it appears either in your text or part of a handout. Why are you asking us instead of reading about it?

Perhaps he neglected on attending class and reading the textbook is too much of a hassle.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Perhaps he neglected on attending class and reading the textbook is too much of a hassle.

As is avoiding traffic citations....oh, low blow! Just playing, sorry.


EDJ

[Frank Booth]

I give the guy credit in knowing the quickest way to get the information he needs!! It was a way to determine what type of powder was used in the round that shot the guy......You know, the stippling identification method...

[ray8285]

As is avoiding traffic citations....oh, low blow! Just playing, sorry.


EDJ

No offense taken...not sure what you mean though

[ray8285]

I give the guy credit in knowing the quickest way to get the information he needs!! It was a way to determine what type of powder was used in the round that shot the guy......You know, the stippling identification method...

True....but I would prefer he tried to find it, couldn't, then asked. Just like training a rookie, I won't give him the easy way out.

[Frank Booth]

True....but I would prefer he tried to find it, couldn't, then asked. Just like training a rookie, I won't give him the easy way out.

Somehow I screwed up my original post. It was SUPPOSED to say:

I give the guy credit in knowing the quickest way to get the information he needs!! If we really wanted to teach him a lesson, we would have told him it was a way to determine what type of powder was used in the round that shot the guy......You know, the stippling identification method...

[ray8285]

Somehow I screwed up my original post. It was SUPPOSED to say:

I give the guy credit in knowing the quickest way to get the information he needs!! If we really wanted to teach him a lesson, we would have told him it was a way to determine what type of powder was used in the round that shot the guy......You know, the stippling identification method...

Now that would be just mean...but I love it.