OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS RELATION OF COOLING OF DEAD BODY WITH SEASONAL VARIATION IN BIHAR STATE

Saroj Kumar Ranjan, *Pinki Kumari, Aman Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar and Bindu Kumari

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Estimation of time since death is an integral part of medicolegal investigations. Cooling of body after death (i.e. Algor Mortis) in relation to environmental temperature in various seasons has its medico-legal importance in connection with determination of time since death. Keeping in this mind, we have planned the study with the objective to evaluate effects of atmospheric temperature over the cooling of dead body in different seasons. Materials and Methods: This was prospective & observational study conducted on 140 dead bodies brought for post-mortem examination at IGIMS mortuary covering the central Patna area from September 2016 to March 2018. Results: After 36 hours in all cases bodies were found to be cooled to the level environmental temperature. Although the rate of fall of temperature is higher in colder seasons, but time taken by the body to cool to the level of environmental temperature has been observed more in colder season than the summer seasons. Conclusion: This study concludes that cooling of dead body to the level of environmental temperature varies greatly depending on the seasonal variation. In Patna region, cooling of dead bodies takes longer time in winter season as compared to summer season.

Keywords: Cooling of dead body, Time since death, seasonal variation, environmental temperature).