Untersuchungen an einer Fettwachsleiche

Adipocere withstands 1600 years of fluctuating groundwater levels in soil

“…Adipocere, as they called it (adipo ¼ fat; cere ¼ wax), is a special type of post-mortem degradation in which neutral fat triglycerides are hydrolyzed into fatty acids and converted into insoluble hydroxy and saturated fatty acids e.g., stearic and palmitic acid (Gotouda et al, 1988). Adipocere is almost totally resistant to decay, which means that bodies covered in adipocere are protected from decay (Janaway, 1987;Micozzi, 1991;O'Brian and Kuehner, 2007;Froentjes, 1965;Ruttan and Marshall, 1917;Strassmann and Fantl, 1926). Adipocere develops from anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Clostridium frigidicarnis, Clostridium perfringens) and only forms when a body is buried in oxygen-deficient surroundings, i.e.…”

Decomposition of buried corpses, with special reference to the formation of adipocere

“…Adipocere (adipo = fat, cere= wax) is formed by the alteration of the soft tissue of the corpse into a greyishwhite, soft, cream-like substance, over time becoming an armour-like solid and resistant mass (Strassmann and Fantl 1926). Since the middle of the nineteenth century it has been known that this mass mainly includes palmitic and stearic acid (Gregory 1847;Goy and Wende 1922).…”

“…Instead, adipocere formation in organs and tissue with little fat content is based on the translocation of the liquefied fat into decomposing tissue as a result of the pressure of the gases produced during putrefaction (phanerosis) (Strassmann and Fantl 1926).…”