Citation

Antonenko NE, Ferris JAJ. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 1987; 20(1): 1-11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.1987.10756936

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper considers the value of diatoms as a diagnostic tool for death by drowning, both through a review of the literature, and through practical work on samples from 45 Coroner cases in British Columbia. When interpreted in the light of knowledge regarding diatom content of the control water, and with as much information regarding the alleged drowning as is available, the diatom content of post-mortem samples can provide valuable corroborative evidence as to the cause of death.