U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Death Time Estimation in Case Work. I. The Rectal Temperature Time of Death Nomogram

NCJ Number
114402
Journal
Forensic Science International Volume: 38 Issue: 3,4 Dated: (September 1988) Pages: 209-236
Author(s)
C Henssge
Date Published
1988
Length
28 pages
Annotation
A rectal temperature time of death nomogram was developed on the basis of physical considerations, the two-exponential term of Marshall and Hoare (J. Forensic Sci. 7 (1962) 56-81), further studies of literature and our own experimental body coolings.
Abstract
The Nomogram Method is based on a single measurement of the rectal temperature. The result is obtained immediately at a scene of crime without any mental arithmetic. Support in the practical application of the method and data for the accuracy of estimated death time are given. Special problems and its limitations are discussed. The Nomogram Method is compared with other temperature methods of estimating the time since death. (Author abstract)