1Additional Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, M.P.
2M.D., Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal
3Assistant Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, M.P.
*Corresponding Author: Sujeet Kumar Samadder, Assistant Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, M.P. E-mail id- drsujeet2522@gmail.com, Mobile number - 8319142407
Online published on 7 May, 2019.
There are numerous methods available for estimation of time since death (TSD) in early post-mortem interval. But, precise determination of TSD is always a big challenge. There are some methods available which can be used for precise determination of TSD, but those have been used in temperate climatic region, such as Henssge nomogram method and Moritz formula. This paper is a humble trial to test the reliability of Henssge nomogram method in tropical climate of central India.
A cross sectional study was carried out on 173 randomly selected cadavers which were brought for autopsy in department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. After collecting routine demographic data like age, gender, height, weight etc. following data were also collected-ambient room temperature, rectal temperature, known TSD and determined TSD by Henssge nomogram. Data was analysed by using SPSS software.
Henssge nomogram method is a reliable way to determine TSD in 24 hour time frame in cold weather i.e. <23 ºC but not in summer weather i.e. >23 ºC and in the fourth time slot of 18–24 hours in the present study circumstances.
Algor mortis, rectal temperature, time since death, Henssge nomogram
