[Radiopacity produced by the stomach contents in a case of trichlorethylene poisoning (author's transl)].

A lethal case of trichlorethylene poisoning is reported. A 50-year-old woman had drunk some 100 ml of pure trichlorethylene. The trichloracetic acid found only in traces in her urine indicated that death apparently occurred very rapidly. Furthermore, substances contained in the hair tonic "K5-Tinktur" were found in remnants of the corps in safekeeping. Skin burns around the mouth, and also on the mucous membrane of the vestibule of the mouth, were striking. The special odor during the autopsy indicated poisoning by organic solvents. The fact trichlorethylene taken orally produces an intense X-ray attenuation is mentioned with regard to the diagnosis of poisoning by halogenized hydrocarbons and to therapeutic measures. The lethal result was due to the narcotic effect of trichlorethylene.