[Forensic and ballistic examination of the surface of gunshot wounds]

When investigating a gun-shot wound the forensic scientist gets the largest number of informations from the examination of the surface of it. After summarizing classical methods of the fire-arms examiner, authors report findings of the scanning electron microscopic examination of the entrance wound and the damaged clothing. Various alterations found characterize different factors of the shooting. Their presence and relation to each other may help to determine the fact of the shot itself and estimate the range at which the weapon was fired.