External appearance of forensic autopsy material of alcoholics

Forensic material of alcoholics was compared with controls with regard to the height, weight, state of nutrition, stature, the ageing process and the presence of traumatic lesions. Surprisingly, it was found that alcoholic women were taller than controls. Alcoholics were significantly more often slightly undernourished, while the extremes, severe obesity or severe undernourishment, did not show any differences. Alcoholics looked older than their age more often than controls. Not unexpectedly, traumatic lesions were more frequent in alcoholics. The lesions were, however, only rarely the result of deliberate violence, but were usually suffered when the alcoholic fell whilst under the influence of alcohol.