Comments on: “Human Decomposition� http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/ The real-life world of death investigation. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:45:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Ray http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-21256 Ray Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:55:03 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-21256 Great information here, I always wanted to be a funeral director. My wife is to creeped out. Ray Great information here, I always wanted to be a funeral director.
My wife is to creeped out.
Ray

]]> By: Crystal T. http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-7108 Crystal T. Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:44:24 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-7108 That's O.K. Thanks for your time. That’s O.K. Thanks for your time.

]]> By: Crystal T. http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-6648 Crystal T. Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:19:43 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-6648 What would "4 + rigor mortis and 4 + posterior livor mortis are present" mean to you? <blockquote>Crystal: No idea about the "4 +". I can only assume someone is using a numbering or coding system to describe the degree of rigor and livor. For livor, we note the region (anterior, posterior, face, etc.) and whether it is absent, fixed, or blanching. For rigor, we note the location (legs, arms, jaw, neck, etc.) and whether it is soft, rigid, passing, passed, etc. Sorry I couldn't be more help. A Douglas</blockquote> What would “4 + rigor mortis and 4 + posterior livor mortis are present” mean to you?

Crystal:

No idea about the “4 +”. I can only assume someone is using a numbering or coding system to describe the degree of rigor and livor. For livor, we note the region (anterior, posterior, face, etc.) and whether it is absent, fixed, or blanching. For rigor, we note the location (legs, arms, jaw, neck, etc.) and whether it is soft, rigid, passing, passed, etc. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.

A Douglas

]]> By: Heather http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-3061 Heather Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:40:38 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-3061 My mother found her partner in bed and had been there for about 8 days. I wanted to get a sense of how she last saw him and gain perspective on some of her trauma. Thank you. My mother found her partner in bed and had been there for about 8 days. I wanted to get a sense of how she last saw him and gain perspective on some of her trauma. Thank you.

]]> By: elizabeth http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-2637 elizabeth Sat, 19 Aug 2006 01:07:30 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-2637 you present an easily understood,detailed explanation of human decompositon,is fascinating,and i thank you .elizabeth. you present an easily understood,detailed explanation of human decompositon,is fascinating,and i thank you .elizabeth.

]]> By: Khadeidra http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-1390 Khadeidra Mon, 12 Jun 2006 01:16:24 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-1390 the smell of a decomposed body is the worst smell I have ever incountered the smell of a decomposed body is the worst smell I have ever incountered

]]> By: lindsey http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-695 lindsey Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:39:24 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-695 i want to be a morticion. I think this sounds like fun though :) i want to be a morticion. I think this sounds like fun though :)

]]> By: Rose N. Roussell http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-641 Rose N. Roussell Sun, 12 Feb 2006 04:01:33 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-641 I have a question? What effect does the odor of a decomposed human body have on a person who lives in the room after the body has been removed. My husband check into a hotel room in New Orleans where a sick woman died. He was not told that this have happened in this room until a week later. But he complained about the bad smell in the room to the front desk. He bougth differnt spray to kill the smell,but nothing worked. After a week he was feeling sick with headackes and complined of breathing problems. Finly he was places in another room. That is when someone with the cleaning crew told him that a person had died in the room he was in and the body was not found for nine days. We know the they did not clean the room properly because this hotel was filled with fema evacuees. What sould we do? <blockquote>Rose, Check out my post <a href="http://www.coronerstories.com/index.php?p=68">“Room to Breath�</a> for my thoughts on ill health effects. A Douglas</blockquote> I have a question? What effect does the odor of a decomposed human body have on a person who lives in the room after the body has been removed.
My husband check into a hotel room in New Orleans where a sick woman died. He was not told that this have happened in this room until a week later. But he complained about the bad smell in the room to the front desk. He bougth differnt spray to kill the smell,but nothing worked. After a week he was feeling sick with headackes and complined of breathing problems. Finly he was places in another room. That is when someone with the cleaning crew told him that a person had died in the room he was in and the body was not found for nine days. We know the they did not clean the room properly because this hotel was filled with fema evacuees. What sould we do?

Rose,

Check out my post “Room to Breath� for my thoughts on ill health effects.

A Douglas

]]> By: Shannon http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-550 Shannon Thu, 24 Nov 2005 05:57:54 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-550 Recently, a man died in the apartment above mine. He was dead for several days - at first we thought his refrigerator died, and contacted our landlord. But, the next day, when blood and bodily fluids started dripping from our bathroom and kitchen ceiling - we telephoned the police. A Hazmat team is currently working on removing the contaminated bits of the house, while we stay in a hotel. Once they are finished, how concerned should we be that that awful smell will return - say, when the heat is cranked, or on a hot summer day? <blockquote>I'll answer this comment in my next post...</blockquote> Recently, a man died in the apartment above mine. He was dead for several days - at first we thought his refrigerator died, and contacted our landlord. But, the next day, when blood and bodily fluids started dripping from our bathroom and kitchen ceiling - we telephoned the police.

A Hazmat team is currently working on removing the contaminated bits of the house, while we stay in a hotel.

Once they are finished, how concerned should we be that that awful smell will return - say, when the heat is cranked, or on a hot summer day?

I’ll answer this comment in my next post…

]]> By: Juan http://www.coronerstories.com/2005/06/02/%e2%80%9chuman-decomposition%e2%80%9d/#comment-511 Juan Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:59:29 +0000 http://www.coronerstories.com/?p=46#comment-511 What are the gases released & what are the dangers associated with the gases to the clean up personnel involving decomposition? <blockquote>Juan: "The putrefaction gases include methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and particularly malodorous ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans" (quoted from page 32 of Spitz and Fisher's <em>Medicolegal Investigation of Death</em>, 3rd ed.) Other than smell and risk of vomiting, I'm not aware of any short-term dangers resulting from exposure to these gases. I can only hope that there aren't any long-term ones either. Most of the risk associated with any bi-product of decomposition are the same same as those pertaining to bloodborne pathogens. My personal practice is to use the same precautions I would when handling someone else blood. I hope that answers your question. Sorry for being so vague. I'm reluctant to offer any specifics on the subject. With my luck, someone wouldn't research the subject beyond what I wrote, and I'd end up getting sued. A Douglas</blockquote> What are the gases released & what are the dangers associated with the gases to the clean up personnel involving decomposition?

Juan:

“The putrefaction gases include methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and particularly malodorous ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans” (quoted from page 32 of Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death, 3rd ed.)

Other than smell and risk of vomiting, I’m not aware of any short-term dangers resulting from exposure to these gases. I can only hope that there aren’t any long-term ones either. Most of the risk associated with any bi-product of decomposition are the same same as those pertaining to bloodborne pathogens. My personal practice is to use the same precautions I would when handling someone else blood.

I hope that answers your question. Sorry for being so vague. I’m reluctant to offer any specifics on the subject. With my luck, someone wouldn’t research the subject beyond what I wrote, and I’d end up getting sued.

A Douglas

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