The estimation of the time since death using temperatures recorded from the external auditory canal : Part II: Using single temperatures from this site to estimate the time since death with consideration of environmental or body "factors" that could affect the estimation.

In this second of two articles, single external auditory canal (EAC) temperatures from cases of suspicious deaths were used to verify the hypothesis that a single EAC temperature can be used to estimate a time since death (TSD). Two different types of thermometers were used (infrared and alcohol-in-glass) to record ambient and body temperatures, which were in turn applied to previously published algorithms without the use of corrective factors to estimate the TSD. In addition, 18 anatomical, environmental, and daily activity "factors" were investigated as to whether they may influence the temperature within the EAC and thus require the introduction of a corrective factor into an algorithm, other than one used to take into account the difference between the rectal and EAC temperature during life and after death. Of the ones examined, only head position, wind speed, daily circadian rhythm, drinking of hot drinks, and possibly mental thought were shown to influence temperature, but the difference was so small that the introduction of a corrective factor into an algorithm was considered unnecessary. Finally, this article provides a summary of both articles, with general recommendations to those who have to use a temperature recorded from the EAC in estimating a TSD.