ISSN:
1432-2013
Keywords:
Body Temperature
;
Body Cooling
;
Hypothermia
;
Thermal Constants
;
Cooling Constant
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Newton's law of cooling was used to analyze the fall in rectal temperature post mortem in 55 cases during refrigeration in a mortuary. As with solids of low thermal conductivity, there was an initial curvilinearity to the semilog plot lasting 1 to 11 hours (related to pelvic circumference) while the proper internal temperature distribution was becoming established. Thereafter there was a linear trend representing a constant percent cooling rater 1 which lasted up to 24 hours for adults. This was followed by a less steep trend of cooling rater 2, which was 37% less thanr 1. This diminution in cooling rate occurred when the rectal temperature fell below 10°C and was ascribed to a reduction in the thermal diffusivity of fat.r 1 had the highest correlation with pelvic circumference. For the nude body in still airr 1=15.6% to 18.4% (T r −T a )/hour for children, 3.8% to 9.4% for adults. Wind increasedr 1; the decrease due to clothing was questionable because of the paucity of cases.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00588059
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