ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

A New Method for Softening Mummified Fingers
Zugibe, FT
Chief medical examiner, Rockland County Health Center, NY

Costello, JT
Senior medical investigator, Rockland County Medical Examiner's Office, NY

(Received 8 April 1985; accepted 4 September 1985)

Abstract

Proposed methods for softening mummified fingers have been either unsuccessful in adequately softening the fingers or have been highly destructive. A simple technique based on an entirely new concept utilizing disodium ethylenediamine tetracetic acid in a detergent solution adjusted to a pH of 7.5 has been successfully used to obtain satisfactory to good fingerprints over the past ten years in every case attempted.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, fingerprints, mummification

Paper ID: JFS12306J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12306J
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