Question

A dead body was recovered from near a pond by the police. During autopsy, the following finding was observed (image showing markedly wrinkled, pale, sodden skin of the soles of the feet). The below phenomenon is due to

• A. Case of torture in hot water
• B. Case of postmortem hanging
• C. Case of immersion in water for 36 hours
• D. Case of colliquative liquefaction

Hint:

Wrinkled, sodden skin on a body recovered from water indicates how long the body has been submerged -- match the degree of maceration to the correct time frame.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify the finding. The image shows markedly wrinkled ('washerwoman's hands/feet'), pale and sodden skin of the soles -- a classic finding of prolonged water immersion, termed 'maceration.'

Step 2: Understand the process. When a body is submerged in water, the skin absorbs water over time. The outer keratin layer (stratum corneum) swells and wrinkles because the underlying dermis does not expand at the same rate. This process is called maceration or cutis anserina depending on stage.

Step 3: Timing of maceration.
- Wrinkling of fingers and palms: begins at 1--2 hours.
- Glove-and-stocking shedding: 6--12 hours.
- Marked maceration with mottling and greenish-black discolouration (as described in the explanation): >36 hours of immersion, accompanied by putrefactive changes.

Step 4: Evaluate options. The sodden, wrinkled feet from a body recovered near a pond indicates prolonged water immersion. The answer is immersion in water for 36 hours. Torture in hot water causes scalding burns; postmortem hanging shows ligature marks; colliquative liquefaction is a form of adipocere formation under special conditions.

Step 5: Conclusion. Case of immersion in water for 36 hours.