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Chapter-28 Postmortem Artifacts

BOOK TITLE: Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Author
1. Biswas Gautam
ISBN
9788184487176
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/10737_28
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2010
Pages
4
Author Affiliations
1. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India, Dayanand Medical College , Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, E-mail: forensicdmc@gmail.com
Chapter keywords

Abstract

This chapter discusses postmortem artifacts, any changes caused, or features introduced in a body after death, which may lead to misinterpretation of findings. Artifacts due to postmortem changes, third party artifacts, environmental artifacts, and other artifacts, are discussed in detail. Artifacts due to postmortem changes are due to rigor mortis, postmortem staining, autolysis, putrefaction and heat. Swelling of lips, nose, eyelids and extremities, distension of the chest and the abdomen may occur, giving a false impression of antemortem obesity. Third party artifacts include artifacts due to animal and insect activity, therapeutic artifacts, deliberate mutilation, dismemberment, and autopsy surgeon induced artifacts. Dead bodies exposed or lying in kerosene, water or gasoline may show chemical injuries. During the process of transfer of the body from the scene of crime to the mortuary, abrasions may be produced over the back or bony prominences, clothes may get bloodstained or torn.

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