Page 93 - Veritas

FEATURE ARTICLES

of death. This algor mortis is applicable up to 24 hours after death. Usually,
body temperature is maintained stable for 30 min to 1 h after death before

starting to decrease, although this can persist for 5 h in extreme cases.

Livor mortis -
Livor mortis - Which is the purplish-blue discolouration of the skin, due to
collection of blood in skin vessels, caused by gravitational pull. The discol-

ouration becomes ‘fixed’ after a certain period, owing to the disintegration

of blood cells and the seepage of haemoglobin. This occurs within hours
after death. Lividity occurs because the heart doesn’t pump the blood over
the body. Lividity begins 30 minutes to 4 hours after death and lasts up to

12 hours. This can help in determining the position of the person when

they died. For example, if a person died on their back the lividity occurred
at their back, like the back of their legs, buttocks.

3) Late Post-mortem interval:
3) Late Post-mortem interval: In this phase, the body tissue starts disin-
tegrating and is primarily describable as decomposition or putrefaction,
adipocere formation, mummification, or skeletonizing. The body primarily
undergoes decomposition or putrefaction, resulting in greenish discoloura-

tion, bloating due to gas formation, and liquefactive necrosis. The decom-

position of remains is dependent on the climate, the season, body weight,
and clothing.

Adipocere: It is a waxy or soap-like substance formed in the presence of
Adipocere:
anaerobic bacteria. It may occur in bodies deposited in waterlogged graves
or by the side of a river. It is sometimes seen 3-4 weeks after death, al-
though 3 months is more typical.

Mummification:
Mummification: Occurs when the body has been dried out due to heat, but
can also be due to wind or any other factors. It results in the dehydration
of the body and brittleness of the skin. The internal organs can be either

dried depending on the conditions.

78 VERITAS