Carbon Monoxide asphyxia: a review of the cerebral changes in ten cases: submitted for the Gunning Memorial Jubilee Prize in Forensic Medicine

After acute carbon monoxide asphyxia the patient may:- (a) recover apparently completely although pallidal necrosis has occurred, or (b) survive for several months although pallidal necrosis any petechial haemorrhages into the white matter have occurred.The most tylical cerebral lesions to be met with in acute carbon monoxide asphyxia are: - (a) bilateral ischaemic necrosis of the anterior globus pallidus, and (b) generalized congestion of vessels and, less frequently, petechial haemorrhages throughout the white matter.In estimating the time between gassing and death, the cellular changes in the globus pallidus are of great help