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Originally Posted by Odd Job
@ APLP
Are there originals of those X-ray films? There are too many compression artefacts for me to see what's going on with the fragments. The other thing is were the X-rays taken before SS opened the pig or after?
The compression artefact can be seen here in the image I have zoomed and marked:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...Xray_LW556.jpg
The yellow arrows point to image artefact or 'bleed' that was either caused by aggressive jpeg compression or colour aliasing (reduction of the number of colours in the image palette). That degree of compression artefact makes analysis of fine projectile fragment densities almost impossible. One curious thing I found in that AP/PA view of the pig's thorax is a linear parallel distribution of projectile fragments. I have outlined that in orange. I am puzzled by that...is it an artefact? I am guessing it is because it is at right angles to the indicated direction of projectile travel and is 'too straight' if you know what I mean.
The other image is good enough for me to work out the anatomy, but only because there are obvious landmarks:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...Xray_LW556.jpg
The small red circle added to the image therefore covers the foreleg/shoulder area of the animal as well as the upper thorax. That is an educated guess, I'm not a veterinary radiographer but the position of the spine and the tapering of the sternum is very helpful and I reckon I am right (but apologise if I am wrong). It is very difficult to comment further though, and if I am truly objective I must say I can't really use those radiographs.
The overall penetration of the projectile in the gel is obvious in the photos but there has been some sort of manipulation (whether intended or not) between the wide and close views of the gel block. The close views have an artificial grain to them, and this could also be due to file compression. It is difficult therefore to determine which black specks are projectile fragments and which are artefacts. Evidence of the artefactual nature of those images can be found when comparing the graduations on the ruler from the wide and close view images. The close images are very noisy.
But what I would really like to see are images of the 9mm ammunition. I am keen as mustard to see those... |
Odd Job,
Those are pictures of the oringinal X-rays from a different shoot, but are typical of what is seen with each bullet deployment. The x-rays from the shoot Dr. Vail attended are not available for posting. There will be another event in the near future where similar data can be posted, and if digital equipment is on site the transmission and recordings will be easily shared.
The yellow is bleed, the orange area as you have identified is an accurate depiction of bullet particulate distribution patterns, and you are also correct with respect to the immediate bullet particulate at right angles to the bullet trajectory. You have guessed your anatomy correctly.
All of the black specs are bullet particulate. HP White Labs labeled those particles as dust particles. It is reasonable to assume some of the bullet particulates escaped the overall dimensions of the gelatin block.