Period of Duration.—From one to nine days. Three weeks (Taylor).
Order in which the Muscles are affected.—Involuntary muscles, back of neck and lower jaw, muscles of the face, front of the neck, chest, upper extremities and then the lower extremities.
Order in which it disappears.—Back of neck, lower jaw, &c., following the course of its accession.
Effects of Exposure to Cold.—Prolonged by dry cold air, and by cold water.
Effects of Enfeebling Disease prior to Death.—Rapid in its invasion, and passing off rapidly.
Effect of a Robust Frame at Period of Death.—The accession may be prolonged; but, other things being equal, it is more strongly manifested, and continues longer.
Effects of Violent Exercise prior to Death.—Rapidly supervenes and rapidly disappears, as in soldiers killed at the end of a battle.
Effects of Poison.—Poisons which cause violent contractions for some time prior to death—strychnine, &c.—influence the rapid invasion of the rigor mortis, its short duration, rapidly followed by putrefaction. Where death in poisoning by strychnine is almost instantaneous, with a short convulsive stage, rigor mortis comes on rapidly and remains a long time.
11. Putrefaction.—the last of the phenomena which follow death—is the resolution of the organised tissues of the body to the inorganic state. It is a gradual process, and is the result of the action of micro-organisms, aided by moisture, air, and warmth.
Putrefaction is the only absolute sign of death having taken place.