title: On the estimation of lay-time by measurements of rigor mortis.
abstract: Measurements of the torgue to overcome rigor mortis on the legs of 101 male human cadavers at 5 degrees C are reported. There seems to exist an upper limit, which is dependent on the lay-time, above which no value occurs, but below which every value may be found. By calculating the 90% tolerance limits for lay-times grouped at 12-hourly intervals, this upper limit was found to decrease exponentially with lay-time. This may be used for the estimation of maximum lay-times from rigor mortis measurements.
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D012298:Rigor Mortis; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors