Tracing the use of electrical torture.

With the aim of being able to trace skin sequelae to electrical torture, an interdisciplinary group of scientists (the "electrical group" of Anti-Torture Research, ATR) has performed controlled morphological studies on skin biopsies from experiments with fully anesthetized pigs. "Vesicular nuclei" in epidermis and a characteristic pattern of collagen calcification in dermis were found to be typical of electrical damage. These alterations were produced by alternating current as well as by direct current.