Objective To discuss the application value of diatom examination in lung tissue for the forensic diagnosis of drowning. Methods The experimental animals were divided randomly into drowning, postmortem submergence and dying on land group. Diatoms in lung tissue and drowning fluid were analyzed quantitatively by microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy diatom examination method. The ratios of content of diatoms in lung tissue and drowning fluid （C_L/C_D ratio） were recorded. Results The C_L/C_D ratios of experimental rabbits in the drowning group （5.82±3.50） were much higher than that of postmortem submergence group （0.47±0.35）; the C_L/C_D ratios of different parts of the lung lobes of experimental pigs in the drowning group were higher than that of postmortem submergence group （P<0.05）; in seawater, brackish water, river fresh water and lake fresh water, the C_L/C_D ratios of experimental pigs in the drowning group were higher than that of postmortem submergence group （P<0.05）. In animal experiments, all the cases with C_L/C_D ratio >1.6 were from drowning group. Conclusion C_L/C_D ratio is an indicator with good application prospects in the diagnosis of drowning.
Animals ; Autopsy ; Diatoms/cytology* ; Drowning/diagnosis* ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Swine