Exhumation

EXHUMATION (exhumation) is usually undertaken by investigative authorities in the event of contradictions arising between the testimony of witnesses and the circumstances of the investigation, or in the case of disagreement in the opinions of experts. When re-examining a corpse, usually one already buried, a physician and persons who were present at the burial must be invited to the exhumation to verify the identity; for the benefit of the case, it is desirable that a chemist, to whom the examination will be entrusted, be present during the exhumation: since corpses are often subjected to preservation or disinfection through the introduction of poisonous substances into the cavities (arsenic, carbolic acid, corrosive sublimate, formalin, etc.), this circumstance must be taken into account, and it should be discussed whether the disinfection has made the detection of poison impossible. Furthermore, one cannot exclude the probability of the accumulation of poison during the prolonged use of medicines containing arsenic, strychnine, mercury, etc. But even more, one should keep in mind that poison can enter the corpse while already in the grave. In urban cemeteries, where burials have taken place several times in the same spot, the soil can accumulate many poisonous substances that may penetrate the corpse. These substances are derived from many objects, especially metallic ones, painted with poisonous paints and lowered into the grave along with the corpse, such as, for example, artificial flowers, wreaths, icons, crosses, metal parts of the coffin, etc. With good preservation of the corpse and the objects surrounding it, it is difficult to assume that poison can enter the corpse. But with significant decomposition of the corpse and destruction of the coffin and the objects contained within it, the possibility of poison entering from this source increases, especially on those parts of the corpse that were in contact with metallic objects or objects painted with poisonous paints. From this, it is clear how important it is to take different parts of the corpse for chemical examination during exhumation, packing them separately, and also to describe in detail in the protocol the remains of the coffin and the objects lowered into the grave, and to preserve them. It is possible that even virgin soil may contain poisonous metals, especially arsenic, which has been repeatedly proven (Sonnenstein); therefore, during exhumation, soil samples should be taken not only from the area immediately surrounding the coffin but also from various places in the cemetery. The purpose of exhumation, especially when performed many years later, in addition to finding traces of poison in cases of suspected poisoning (metallic poisons can be discovered even where the corpse has rotted down to the bones), is to establish the identity of the person who died under suspicious circumstances, as well as the time elapsed since burial. This is aided by the remains of clothing on the corpse when only humus remains of the soft parts of the corpse (Reinhard): Linen and cotton fabrics are destroyed most quickly, woolen fabrics later (after 8–10 years), and silk fabrics are preserved the longest (up to 20 years); these observations refer to corpses buried in coffins in cemeteries.