Statistics Relating to the Disappearance of Rigor Mortis

Extract

Of 220 cases in which post-mortem examinations were held the following were the conditions as to rigor mortis. It will be seen that in only 11 cases does the condition recorded militate in any way against the statement that “far from commencing in the jaw, then attacking the arms and lastly the legs, and disappearing in the inverse order,” as was at one time taught, and as is stated at the present time in some of our text-books, in whatever order it may commence, it almost invariably disappears first from the jaw, afterwards from the arms and legs; in fact probably in the order of its appearance.