A histological comparison of the temporal bone in strangulation and drowning

The temporal bones from a two year old drowning victim are compared with those of a 13 month old strangulation victim. Tympanomastoid hemorrhage and submucosal edema and petechiae with moderate vascular congestion were characteristic in drowning. Marked congestion with edema but no sign of hemorrhage was found in strangulation. It is concluded that respiratory effort against a closed glottis is not solely responsible for the tympanomastoid hemorrhage known to occur frequently as a result of drowning.