Diatoms and drowning--once more

The content of diatoms in 5 samples: lung-, kidney- and liver-tissue plus columna- and femur-marrow from each of four drowned and four non-drowned persons has been investigated. Diatom valves were found in all the samples. It seems, however, impossible to point out any characteristic differences between the composition of the diatom 'flora' in drowned and non-drowned persons. Consequently it will not be possible by means of diatoms to prove that a person died by drowning.