Bullet or bite--a contribution to the morphogenesis of gunshot dermal injury.

Histopathologic studies of dermal dog bites revealed changes identical with those observed in distant gunshot skin entrance wounds and in a presternal skin stab wound made by a screwdriver. The similarity of the epithelial and collagen changes produced by these three totally different traumatizing, perforating agencies indicate that it is the bullet's penetrating and crushing power, and not its caloric content, that is responsible for the characteristic dermal collagen changes noted in these common injuries.