A study of algor mortis in relation to cause and manner of death in hospitalised/non-hospitalised cases in tropical climate of central India

Abstract

Introduction: To understand the different aspects of average rate of cooling (ARC) in detail, is very important for understanding algor mortis in order to determine time since death in early post-mortem interval, as the classic triad of so-called thanatochronological data is constituted by algor mortis, rigor mortis and livor mortis. This paper is a humble trial to show some light and to detect any relation between average rate cooling of cadaver to cause and manner of death, and hospitalisation in tropical climate of central India. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. 173 cadavers were selected randomly which were brought for autopsy. After collecting routine data like age, gender, height, weight etc. following data were also collected – ambient room temperature, rectal temperature, cause of death, manner of death, and hospitalisation. Data were analysed using SPSS software. Conclusion: The study found that cause of death, manner of death or hospitalisation has no effect on rate of cooling (p > 0.05). Keywords: Algor mortis, Average rate of cooling, Cause of death, Manner of death, Hospitalised/non-hospitalised, Cadaver.