Antemortem Trauma From Rodent Activity: The Popiel Phenomenon

Abstract

Injuries to bodies from animal activity are often postmortem in nature, although differentiating ante- from postmortem tissue damage may be difficult. Presented here is the case of a 73-year-old woman who died of a cerebral infarct. The woman demonstrated postmortem, and probable premortem, injuries resulting from rodent activity. Histological examination of tissues from areas of animal activity revealed a subtle early vital reaction, suggesting that the victim may have been alive during the animal feeding activity. Given the Polish folk legend of Popiel, a ninth-century ruler who was eaten alive by mice, the finding of antemortem injuries due to rodents or other animals could be designated the "Popiel phenomenon." Histological assessment of such wounds may be a crucial step in determining the timing of injuries, helping to elucidate the chronology of the fatal event, and separating pre- from postmortem wounds. If a vital reaction is detected, it can be assumed that the victim was alive for some time in an incapacitated state prior to death, and that death did not occur rapidly.