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13 Med. Sci. & L. 1 (1973)

handle is hein.journals/mdsclw13 and id is 1 raw text is: MEDICINE SCIENCE and the LAW VoL 13. No. 1 The Official Journal of the January, 1973 British Academy of Forensic Sciences Editorial IN the past the diagnosis of death due to immersion was largely made on either negative findings or the finding of voluminous lungs with river debris in the air-passages. During the last few years several medicolegists have used the so-called' diatom method 'in an attempt to place the diagnosis of drown- ing on a more scientific basis. Mr. Hendey, who has devoted a considerable Part of his life to the study of diatomaceous material, discusses on page 23 of this issue the diagnostic value of diatoms in such medicolegal cases. The apparent increased incidence of' mugging ' is to be deprecated almost as much as the terminology. ' Mugging' is an American term which has been glorified in recent months by the mass media and merely describes a form of' robbery with violence '. It is not a new method of violence, but is a combination of greed, immaturity, lawlessness, and brutality among certain groups of adolescents who can only attack, usually defenceless people, in a Pack or gang. Much has been written recently as to what sentences should be given to these gangs of predators but little thought has, as yet, been given to its causation. Obviously there must be lack of parental control and guidance and, whilst in all probability they would have made bad soldiers, one wonders what a bit of' square bashing ' and ' short back and sides ' would have done. Until a better means of eliminating this outbreak of' mugging ' can be found, the only deterrent appears to be severe sentences. The Government's inter-departmental Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders, under the Chairmanship of Lord Butler of Saffron Walden, is now ready to receive written evidence. Set up jointly by the Home Secretary and