Thanatology: control soil at exhumation: 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: control soil at exhumation

Sample item

A body is exhumed on suspicion of metallic poisoning. Why must samples of soil around the coffin be collected as well as the viscera?

ATo identify the body from the chemistry of the soilBTo prove the cause of death from the soil bacteriaCTo estimate the time since burial from the moisture contentDTo show whether the poison could have entered the body from the soil

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. To show whether the poison could have entered the body from the soil

A metal such as arsenic can occur naturally in soil and can diffuse into a buried body. Control samples of soil from above, below and around the coffin, with the coffin material, allow the chemist to show whether the poison found in the viscera came from the environment.

Option by option

A. To identify the body from the chemistry of the soil
Soil chemistry does not identify a person.
B. To prove the cause of death from the soil bacteria
Soil bacteria do not establish the cause of death.
C. To estimate the time since burial from the moisture content
Soil moisture does not give a dependable time since burial.
D. To show whether the poison could have entered the body from the soil (correct)
Correct. Control soil excludes post-burial contamination of the body by the poison.

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.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, To show whether the poison could have entered the body from the soil. A metal such as arsenic can occur naturally in soil and can diffuse into a buried body.

Why is "To identify the body from the chemistry of the soil" not the answer?

Soil chemistry does not identify a person.

Why is "To prove the cause of death from the soil bacteria" not the answer?

Soil bacteria do not establish the cause of death.

Why is "To estimate the time since burial from the moisture content" not the answer?

Soil moisture does not give a dependable time since burial.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: control soil at exhumation in Forensic Medicine. Control samples of soil from above, below and around the coffin, with the coffin material, allow the chemist to show whether the poison found in the viscera came from the environment.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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: control soil at exhumation?

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.