A body is found in a temperate environment. Postmortem calorimetry reveals a rectal temperature of 30°C. Ambient temperature is 20°C and normal body temperature is assumed to be 37°C. Using the Henssge nomogram with a body weight of 70 kg on a dry surface, what is the MOST important correction factor applied when the body is found clothed?

• A Clothing decreases the cooling time constant (factor 0.7)
• B Clothing increases the cooling time constant (factor 1.3) ✓
• C Clothing has no effect on the nomogram calculation
• D Clothing correction is only applicable if body weight exceeds 90 kg

Explanation

In the Henssge nomogram, clothing (especially thick/multiple layers) is a corrective factor that increases the calculated time since death because insulation slows heat dissipation; the factor is approximately 1.3 applied to the time estimate, shifting the confidence interval toward a longer postmortem interval. A factor <1 would imply faster cooling. Body weight independently determines the baseline cooling curve; clothing correction applies regardless of weight.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.