On the cooling of the human body after death : Inferences respecting the time of death. Observations of temperature made in 100 cases / by Dr. Alfred S. Taylor and Dr. Wilks.

  • Alfred Swaine Taylor
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the cooling of the human body after death : Inferences respecting the time of death. Observations of temperature made in 100 cases / by Dr. Alfred S. Taylor and Dr. Wilks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    xV summary of the observations of the temperature of the dead body, recorded in this table, leads to the following con- clusions. If the periods of time be divided, first, into those which are included between two and three hours; secondly, between four and five hours; thirdly, between six and eight hours; and fourthly, twelve hours, including one or two cases extending to fourteen hours; then we find that the results are as follows : First period, Second period, Third period, Fourth period, two to three hour’s four to six hours. six to eight hours. twelve hours. Number of observa- tions 76 49 29 35 Maximum tempera- ture of body 94° 86° o O CO 79° Minimum tempera- ture of body 60° 62° 60° 56° Average tempera- ture 77° 74° • o O N 69° As the above periods date from the time at which the bodies were received at the dead-house, it is obvious that the temperatures above given are under rather than over stated. Thus in order to determine how long a period had elapsed since death, the time which the body remained in the ward, must be added to the time at which the observations were made. As this time varied greatly, we have found it impossi- ble to include it in the calculations above given; but the facts show that the dead body cools slowly and progressively, and that, as a rule, the abdomen retains a considerable warmth for upwards of twelve hours after death. This table illustrates some of those curious conditions which have been occasionally observed in the dead body, and which have as yet received no adequate explanation. In Case 1, of a man, aged fifty-three, who died from Bright’s disease and ery- sipelas, in two hours the body had a temperature of 72°, but in four hours, it was 75°, having thus increased 3°, although the temperature of the dead-house was 42°. In six hours it had attained the same temperature (72°) which was ob- served after the lapse of two hours.
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