Time Since Death Using Physico-Chemical Changes in Human Dead Body

Mysteries, particularly the homicidal have often created ripples in the history of Forensic Science, raising so many questions, most important being "Time of death" (or "time since death"). Establishing the times of an assault and death has a direct bearing on the legal questions of alibi and opportunity. The physical changes in the deceased are the important criteria to gives a fair range of time since death. The present study was carried out in Shri. Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India. The detail postmortem examination of the deceased forwarded for autopsy had been carried out and the postmortem changes were noted. Vitreous humor samples were collected from the eyes of 152 deceased from the autopsies conducted in mortuary at Shri. Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal and analyzed for Magnesium levels. Main objective of this study is to investigate the utility of vitreous magnesium levels and physical changes after death for determination of time since death. The approximate time of death can be estimated from physical changes after death in human. It is evident that the longer the time interval between death and the examination of the body the wider will be the limits of probability. The level of Magnesium in the vitreous humour after death is not a reliable criterion for determination of time since death.