[Statistical observations on the cases of unnatural deaths examined at our department during the past 10 years].

Medicolegal evaluation of 1495 cases of unnatural death of last 10 years was carried out in our department and the data so obtained were statistically analysed. The cases consisted of 260 inspections, 865 judicial autopsies and 370 administrative autopsies. The most frequent category was death from diseases followed by suicide, homicide, traffic accidents, other accidents and self originated accidents. In homicide cases, sharp objects were mainly used. Six cases of accident of scuba diving were included within the group of 28 cases of drowning of self originated variety. Although Okinawa is subtropical 12 cases of death by accidental hypothermia were found. Gangland fight using rifles cost 7 lives, 2 policemen, a high school student and 4 members of locally originated gangsters during last 18 months. Cardiac insufficiency was the most common of sudden unexpected death cases that complied with the data of Tokyo and Osaka. Death from alimentary disorder in Okinawa was 1.5 times more frequent than that in Tokyo and Osaka and liver disorder accounted for about 41%. The 68 cases of death from suckling contained 10 SIDS cases. Complication of medical treatment was encountered in 9 cases during the past 10 years.