The central brain temperature was recorded in 53 human corpses, stored at constant ambient temperatures between 10 degrees and 30 degrees C. The measurements were started on average 1.6 h post mortem and continued for 8-50 h. The sigmoidal shape of the temperature curves fitted the mathematical model of Marshall and Hoare (1962). This model provides a precise description of the temperature curves. For 44 corpses, studied at temperatures between 10 degrees and 25 degrees C, the time of death was calculated using fixed values for the adaptation parameters of the model. The margins of error for the 95% tolerance limit were +/- 1.5 h up to 6.5 h post mortem, +/- 2.5 h between 6.5 and 10.5 h post mortem and +/- 3.5 h between 10.5 and 13.5 h post mortem. For the recommended practical application a "brain temperature--time of death" nomogram is presented. We found that the rate of cooling was influenced by the amount of hair. Furthermore, it has been argued that the study method could be improved further. In consequence, we expect the central brain temperature to be even more accurate in the calculation of the time of death than has been discussed and shown on the basis of the present material.

The evaluation of barbiturate intoxication as the cause of death is often difficult when the concentration in body fluids and organs is not extremely high. The problem arises because of the great capacity of barbiturates to produce tolerance after chronic use, a property that is often unknown. Therefore, the most abused barbiturates were studied to assess whether chronic intake causes morphological liver changes or not. It was found that the chronic abuse of drugs containing seco-, cyclo-, brallo-, and/or pentobarbital produces hypertrophy of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes corresponding to that of phenobarbital. Neither acute barbiturate overdose (without a history of abuse) nor chronic abuse of opiates causes similar liver changes. In conclusion, barbiturate tolerance can be evaluated postmortem by light microscopic examination of the liver.