Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 475-477 , November 2009

Early adipocere formation: A case report and review of literature

  • T.S. Mohan Kumar, MBBS MD (Associate Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Alluri Sitaram Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India
    • ,
  • Francis N.P. Monteiro, MBBS MD (Assistant Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576 104, India
    • ,
  • Prashantha Bhagavath, MBBS MD (Assistant Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576 104, India
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +91 820 2922450 (O), +91 9448624014 (M); fax: +91 820 2570061/2570062.
    • ,
  • Shankar M. Bakkannavar, MBBS MD (Assistant Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576 104, India

Received 16 March 2009 ,Revised 27 May 2009 ,Accepted 1 July 2009.

References 

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  2. Forbes SL. Decomposition chemistry in a burial environment. In:  Tibbett M,  Carter DU editor. Soil analysis in forensic taphonomy – chemical and biological effects of buried human remains. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 2008;p. 203–224
  3. DiMaio VJM, DiMaio DJ. Forensic pathology. 2nd ed.. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 2001;p. 34–5
  4. Saukko P, Knight B. Knight’s forensic pathology. 3rd ed.. London: Arnold Publication; 2004;p. 70–2
  5. Mukherjee JB. Forensic medicine and toxicology. 2nd ed.. New Delhi: Arnold Associates; 1994;p. 246–7
  6. Evans WE. Some histological findings in spontaneously preserved bodies. Med Sci Law. 1962;2:145–164
  7. Evans WE. Adipocere formation in a relatively dry environment. Med Sci Law. 1963;3:145–153
  8. Rothschild MA, Schmidt V, Schneider V. Adipocere – problems in estimating the lengths of time since death. Med Law. 1996;15:329–335
  9. Polson CJ, Gee DJ, Knight B. The essentials of forensic medicine. 4th ed.. Oxford: Pergamon Press; 1985;p. 21–6
  10. Pfeiffer S, Milne S, Stevenson RM. The natural decomposition of adipocere. J Forensic Sci. 1978;43:368–370
  11. Corry JEL. A review: possible sources of ethanol ante- and post-mortem: it’s relationship to biochemistry and microbiology of decomposition. J Appl Bacteriol. 1978;44:1–56
  12. Sledzik PS, Micozzi MS. Autopsied, embalmed, and preserved human remains distinguishing features in forensic and historic contexts. In:  Haglund WD,  Sorg MH editor. Forensic taphonomy: the post-mortem fate of human remains. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 1997;p. 483–496
  13. Mant AK, Furbank R. Adipocere – a review. J Forensic Med. 1957;4:8–35
  14. Rebmann AJ, Koenig M, David E, Sorg MH. Cadaver dog handbook: forensic training and tactics for the recovery of human remains. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 2000;p. 121–8
  15. Mant AK. Knowledge acquired from post-war exhumations. In:  Boddington A,  Garland AN,  Janaway RC editor. Death, decay, and reconstruction: approaches to archaeology and forensic science. Manchester, UK: University Press; 1987;p. 65–78
  16. Cotton GE, Aufderheide AC, Goldschmidt VG. Preservation of human tissue immersed for five years in fresh water of known temperature. J Forensic Sci. 1987;32:1125–1130
  17. Dix JD. Missouri’s lakes and the disposal of homicide victims. J Forensic Sci. 1987;32:806–809
  18. Takatori T, Yamaoka A. The mechanism of adipocere formation. I: identification and chemical properties of hydroxy fatty acids in adipocere. J Forensic Sci. 1977;9:63–73
  19. Mellen PFM, Lowry MA, Micozzi MS. Experimental observations on adipocere formation. J Forensic Sci. 1993;38:91–93
  20. Mackenzie SC. Indian Medical Gazette; February 1889.
  21. Dikshit PC. Textbook of forensic medicine and toxicology. New Delhi: Peepee Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd.; 2007;p. 108
  22. Subrahmanyam BV. Modi’s medical jurisprudence and toxicology. 22nd ed.. New Delhi: Butterworth; 1999;p. 243–4
  23. Umadethan B. Principles and practice of forensic medicine. Kochi: Swamy Law House; 2008;p. 34–5
  24. Karmakar RN. JB Mukherjee’s forensic medicine and toxicology. 3rd ed.. Kolkata, India: Academic Publishers; 2007;p. 305
  25. Mann RW, Bass WM, Meadows L. Time since death and decomposition of the human body: variables and observations in case and experimental field studies. J Forensic Sci. 1990;35:103–111
  26. Tomita K. On putrefactions and floatations of dead bodies under water. Hiroshima J Med Sci. 1975;24:117–152
  27. Bryan AH, Bryan CA, Bryan CG. Bacteriology: principles and practice. New York: Barnes and Noble; 1962;
  28. O’Brien TG. Movement of bodies in Lake Ontario. In:  Haglund WD,  Sorg MH editor. Forensic taphonomy – the postmortem fate of human remains. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 1997;p. 559–566
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PII: S1752-928X(09)00108-5

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2009.07.004

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 475-477 , November 2009

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