[Death by hypothermia. Are there any new diagnostic aspects? (author's transl)].

The report concerns seven cases of death by undercooling which have been investigated this year. The hemorrhaging of muscles in the core of the body (m. iliopsoas) as described by Dirnhofer and Sigrist was found once, this supposedly being a "relatively specific vital sign". In every case it was possible to detect punctiform hemorrhaging of the gastric mucous membrane which according to Unterhofer is decisive when diagnosing death by hypothermia. Furthermore, it was always possible to detect higher acetone values, especially in the urine. This finding could possibly be significant for the diagnosis (death by undercooling). The acetone value is simply a secondary finding when the amount of alcohol is determined by gas chromatography.