[Development of immersion skin in fresh and salt water at different water temperatures]

The development of skin wrinkling was analysed using 48 hands from 24 adult corpses in systematic experiments involving submersion in fresh and salt water at varying water temperatures (10 degrees, 20 degrees, and 30 degrees C); the results were documented by photography. Skin wrinkling was observed after between 15 min and 72 h of submersion. These are the essential results of the study: skin wrinkling is highly dependent on temperature and begins after only 15 min of submersion. The development of wrinkling in salt water, especially after long periods (greater than 24 h), is different from that in fresh water. Washerwomen's hands are classified into four categories that allow practical, usable conclusions to be drawn about the duration of submersion. Previous opinions concerning the development and timing of washer-women's hands were verified by means of test photographs shown to 16 domestic and foreign experts on legal medicine. It became obvious that expertise in this area varies considerably. Concerning the forensic approach, these surveys again show that, even when many influencing factors are known (water temperature, osmolarity, etc.) and comprehensive documentation has been made, the length of submersion can only be very roughly assessed from macroscopical aspects.