Factors Modifying the Process of Putrefaction
By: Dr Mohd Kalim Assistant Professor Glocal College of Unani Medical Science and Research Centre, Mirzapur Pole Saharanpur Factors Modifying the Process of Putrefaction
External Factors Internal Factors
Warmth and clothing Age and Condition of the body Moisture
Sex Air
Manner of Burial Cause of Death The external factors which modify the process of putrefaction are as follows Warmth and clothing Moisture Air Manner of Burial Putrefaction begins at 10ᵒ C Rapidly occurs at 37ᵒ C (Ideal Temperature) At freezing temperature the bacterial growth is inhibited and putrefaction will not occur The body can be preserved for indefinite period in cold storage, snow or ice. The clothing initially hasten the putrefaction by maintaining the body temperature at which the putrefactive organism multiply for a longer period. At later stage, they delay decomposition by protecting the body against the destruction of flies and insects. For putrefaction moisture is necessary. It helps rapid multiplication of organism. The death due to oedematous condition, putrefaction is very rapid. (Presence of fluid) Similarly, the body recovered from water if left in air, decompose with remarkable rapidity. Organs with high moisture contents putrefy more rapidity than dry ones. The brain with its high moisture and flat content will putrefy early in contrast to dry structures like nail, hair, teeth and bones. Muscular organs such as heart resist putrefaction and decompose late. The presence of air promotes decomposition and its absence retards it. Bodies lying in water putrefy more slowly because of exclusion of air and lowering of temperature. In air tight coffins the body remains with very little change for long periods while bodies buried without coffins putrefy at once. Similarly, bodies in deep graves putrefy much more slowly than those in shallow ones because of exclusion of air. When bodies are buried in lime the putrefaction is retarded and soft tissue are largely preserved. Clayey and water lodged soiled enhance the process of adipocere formation Mummification has got acceleration by sandy and porous soils. The internal factors which modify the process of putrefaction are as follows 1. Age and Condition of the Body 2. Sex 3. Cause of Death The bodies of newborn or stillborn infants are mostly sterile. The putrefaction can only occur of the invasion of external organism in the body from outward. As the body of new born cools rapidly, the putrefactive process is considerably slowed. Fat and Flabby bodies of Children contain plenty of moisture and putrefy rapidly and lean and dry tissues of old age tend to do so slowly. Those parts of the body which are the seat of bruises, wounds, or fracture, or which have been mutilated decompose very early. Gravid and postpartum uterus will putrefy early. This has very little influence on putrefaction except those women who have been died due to septicaemia after child birth. In such cases, putrefaction starts rapidly. When a person dies of septicaemia, e.g. Intestinal obstruction, peritonitis, and pylonephritis, the organism required fro the putrefaction is already present in plenty of numbers. Putrefaction is accelerated in alcoholic subjects as most of them are fat and flabby. Putrefaction is retarded in wasting diseases like anaemia, and malnutrition owning (because of) reduced amount of blood and the dryness of the tissue. Bodies of person dying suddenly and in apparently good health decompose slowly. Poisoning by substances which preserve the tissues and destroy bacteria delays putrefaction. These include chronic poisoning by arsenic, antimony and other heavy metals.