Thanatology: Casper's dictum: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: Casper's dictum

Sample item

A body is exhumed after 16 weeks of burial in soil. Using Casper's dictum, which one correctly describes the degree of decomposition seen?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Comparable to a body left in water for about 4 weeks

Casper's dictum states that putrefaction after 1 week in air equals that after 2 weeks in water and 8 weeks in soil. So 16 weeks in soil is equivalent to 2 weeks in air, which equals 4 weeks in water. The ratio varies with temperature, depth and type of soil, so it is only a rough guide.

Option by option

  • A. Comparable to a body left in water for about 4 weeks (correct)

    Correct. Sixteen weeks in soil equals 2 weeks in air and 4 weeks in water.

  • B. Comparable to a body left in air for about 8 weeks

    Eight weeks in air would correspond to 64 weeks in soil.

  • C. Comparable to a body left in water for about 2 weeks

    Two weeks in water would correspond to 8 weeks in soil, not 16.

  • D. Comparable to a body left in water for about 16 weeks

    Sixteen weeks in water would correspond to 64 weeks in soil.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Comparable to a body left in water for about 4 weeks. Casper's dictum states that putrefaction after 1 week in air equals that after 2 weeks in water and 8 weeks in soil.

Why is "Comparable to a body left in air for about 8 weeks" not the answer?

Eight weeks in air would correspond to 64 weeks in soil.

Why is "Comparable to a body left in water for about 2 weeks" not the answer?

Two weeks in water would correspond to 8 weeks in soil, not 16.

Why is "Comparable to a body left in water for about 16 weeks" not the answer?

Sixteen weeks in water would correspond to 64 weeks in soil.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: Casper's dictum in Forensic Medicine. So 16 weeks in soil is equivalent to 2 weeks in air, which equals 4 weeks in water. The ratio varies with temperature, depth and type of soil, so it is only a rough guide.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thanatology: Casper's dictum?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.