August 22, 2008
The Lab
Since I have absolutely NOTHING positive to blog about at the moment, I thought I’d take you, my friends, to one of my favorite dark little hideouts. 
Here, the drinks are free, but deadly. That guy in black leather isn’t waiting to pick you up, but to put you down. Permanently. The music is required to be loud enough to mask a scream or two, and you want to be very careful about what you put in your mouth. Those peanuts smell like almonds? That “Suggestions” envelope you licked had a powdery residual taste? And is the sexy blonde at the end of the bar wearing a pair of stiletto heels that look like they’ve been pared to the sharpness of an ice-pick?
Welcome to one of my favorite places to visit when I’m looking for a certain kind of information:
THE WRITER’S MEDICAL AND FORENSICS LAB, by D.P. Lyle, M.D.
Dr. Lyle is, apparently, a consultant to many top-notch mystery authors and criminal procedural television shows. He will consult with you for a “fee”—but he also answers questions and posts a lot of information on this website.
I suggest checking out the Forensics Community site there. Fascinating stuff.
A few odd questions Dr. Lyle has received from authors?
What happens when someone is shot in the heart with an arrow?
How does the so-called “Flesh-eating Bacteria” harm humans?
What duration of exposure to high environmental temperatures would prove lethal for a pregnant woman?
Can the injection of air into a vein cause death?
What are the physical findings and mechanism of death in a victim whose face is held beneath boiling water?
Can a condom be used to save the life of someone suffering severe lacerations from shattered glass?
Could my character use cyanide added to a contact lens solution to kill another character?
Can the fingerprint of a perpetrator be lifted from the victim’s severed finger?
Do zombie killers leave behind forensic evidence?
Would a corpse decay on Mars?
Could the ME determine that my character had been eaten by a werewolf?
God love the writers, lol. 
If you’re looking for forensics information, or just a good time, hang out at The Lab for a while.
And pay no attention to those creative little sketches on the floor…
Thank you. Great stuff.
those are some maniacal folks… scarier though, I have wondered many the same things–I’d like to say it was for books, but sadly I am just uber-curious with a dh who sleeps with one eye open most nights
I learned if an ME looks at a slit wrists suicide, the left should not be cut so deeply, it would prevent the cutting of the right wrist. Good reference stuff… but yuck.
Thanks Raine.
You’re welcome, Bernita (who also dabbles in forensics professionally, I believe).
I think a sense of curiosity is mandatory for the “what-if” mindset of an author, Dennie.
(And bless your poor dh, lol!).
Bernard, it may come in handy for one of those killings you plot so well in your serial stories.
(Must admit, I occasionally give a big “yuck” when I’m watching something on CSI Miami too, Bernard).
OMG that’s hysteircal and scary!
>>Could my character use cyanide added to a contact lens solution to kill another character?
I want lasik surgery NOW
I want lasik surgery NOW
Lol!!
I thought that was one of the more interesting ones!
Lol. I’ve asked weird questions like that before. I’ve also learned to say first, “I’m a writer, writing a book and this is what I need to know.”
BTW my nurse friend said it actually takes a LOT of air injected into someone’s vein to kill them
Raine, this post was too good. No seriously … TOO good.
You worry me, lady!
I’ve also learned to say first, “I’m a writer, writing a book and this is what I need to know.”
Sure you are, Mel. We believe you…
Thank you for that great link!
BTW my nurse friend said it actually takes a LOT of air injected into someone’s vein to kill them
I always wondered about that! I’d heard a simple big air bubble would do the trick.
Good to know, Ames!
You worry me, lady!
Thank you for that great link!
It’s a good link for reference material.
Love your post, Raine. Those are some cool questions, i think about things like that all the time. Would a corpse decay on mars? I’m guessing no, desicate maybe, but not decay. It would probably end up looking like a body left in the desert.
I’ll have to go check out that site, research ya know.
I’m guessing no, desicate maybe, but not decay. It would probably end up looking like a body left in the desert.
Ya just gotta love a writer’s mind…
