ESTIMATION OF THE BREAKING OF RIGOR-MORTIS BY MYOTONOMETRY

Myotonometry was used to detect breaking of rigor mortis. The myotonom eter is a new instrument which measures the decaying oscillations of a muscle after a brief mechanical impact. The method gives two numerica l parameters for rigor mortis, namely the period and decrement of the oscillations, both of which depend on the time period elapsed after de ath. In the case of breaking the rigor mortis by muscle lengthening, b oth the oscillation period and decrement decreased, whereas, shortenin g the muscle caused the opposite changes. Fourteen h after breaking th e stiffness characteristics of the right and left m. biceps brachii, o r oscillation periods, were assimilated. However, the values for decre ment of the muscle, reflecting the dissipation of mechanical energy, m aintained their differences.