Postmortem Artifacts
Postmortem Artifacts are natural changes introduced in the dead animals after death. These are not caused by humans or animals.
Postmortem Artifacts are not related to the physiology state of body or tissues either health or disease to which the animal might be exposed prior to death should be differentiated.
Unless Postmortem artifacts will lead to misinterpretation of:
- Wrong cause of death
- Wrong manner of death
- Undue suspection of criminal offences
- Miscarriage of justice
Classification of Postmortem Artifacts
- Putrefaction
- Environmental artifacts
- Third party artifacts
- Miscellaneous artifacts
1. Putrefaction
Putrefaction happen when body kept under sunlight < 2 hour. It is severe decomposition of the body. So it is a normal phenomena of biological tissues.
Examples of Putrefaction:
- Distension of abdomen, and thorax
- Profusion of tongue
- Buldging of eye balls
- Swelling of lips, nose, eyelids, vulvar lips, udder etc.
- Presence of sero sanguineous fluid in and around
- Mouth, nose, vulvar opening etc.
- Postmortem vomition of ruminal contents
- Postmortem defecation and urination
2. Environmental artifacts
- Postmortem burning: unusual places affected, no tissue reaction.
- Postmortem corrosion: Acids, caustic soda, industrial effluent etc. and seen on body surface touching ground.
- Postmortem maceration: Prolonged physical contact of the body parts and bones with water, mud, etc.
3. Third party artifacts
Birds ants, flies, etc. in ears, eyes, nose, mouth, anus, vulva, udder.
Example: Haematoma around jugular vein, sub-cutaneous fluid accumulation at the sites of injection, laceration and obstetrical handling marks in urogenital tract, rumen puncture wound etc. are some of the marks left after emergency treatment.
Deliberate mutilation of body to mask the identify of the animal.
Examples of third party artifacts:
- Cutting ear bearing tattoo mark / tag.
- Cutting of tail.
- Damage of scar mark etc.
4. Miscellaneous artifacts
Miscellaneous artifacts like dragging marks on the lower surface of the body and rope marks on the fetlock region around horns, neck etc.
