ADIPOCERE 411 



diflPusion of the aimuoiiiiini soaps formed during the decomposition. As 

 the subcutaneous fat is hardened by the formation of soaps, and the 

 bones remain to hold the parts in position, the general form of the 

 body is preserved, creating the impression that its entire su])stance has 

 been converted into adipocere, when tlie total mass may actually weigh 

 but twenty pounds or so, and, according to Zillner's estimate, not more 

 than one-tenth of the muscle substance is replaced by adipocere. This 

 false impression is probably responsible for much of the mistaken 

 idea concerning the conversion of tissue proteins into fatty acids. 

 Thus, Schmidt ^^ found that in early Egyptian munniiies 60 per cent, 

 of the weight of the lungs and 30 per cent, of the spleen consisted of 

 fatty acids, and fell into the usual error of considering this conclu- 

 sive evidence of transformation of proteins into fat. 



Numerous attempts have been made to prove that muscle could be 

 thus converted into fatty acids and soaps, but although success has 

 been claimed by a few, the results are not entirely convincing.^" 

 Bacteria can convert proteins into fats, beyond a doubt, and they 

 may do so to some slight extent in adipocere formation, but probably 

 this factor is not important. 



In the light of our present conception of fat metabolism it is prob- 

 able that the process of adipocere formation occurs as follows: The 

 fatty acids of the fat tissue are combined by the ammonia formed 

 during putrefaction, removing these fatty acids from the normal bal- 

 ance of fat and fatty acids in the fat tissue; as a result, the lipase of 

 the fat tissue continues to split the fat, and more fatty acids are 

 produced, which likewise go to form soaps. This continues until 

 practically all the neutral fat has been decomposed, the glycerol dif- 

 fusing rapidly away. The soluble soaps, which the bacteria do not 

 attack, diffuse into the softened muscle tissue, w^hich they gradually 

 replace in part. In the meantime, from the more soluble ammonium 

 soaps, calcium and magnesium soaps are being slowly formed, accord- 

 ing to the usual rule of double decomposition (that the least soluble 

 salt will be formed under such conditions) ; or else, if an acid reaction 

 develops, free fatty acids are precipitated. The oleic acid seems to 

 be converted into the higher fatty acids (Salkowski).*° It is also 

 possible that the saponification is due to the gradual action of the al- 

 kaline fluids produced in decomposition of the tissues, or to the alka- 

 linity of the water in which the body lies. Possibly bacteria may be 

 responsible for this decomposition of the fats rather than the body 

 lipase, for Eijkman *^ has observed that certain bacteria growing in 

 fat-containing agar produce calcium, ammonium, and sodium soaps, 

 simulating adipocere.^" 



s^Zeit. all<;. Physiol., 1907 (7), 360. 



30 See Rosenfeld. Ercjeh. der. Physiol., Abt. 1. 1902 (1), 659. 

 40 Festsdir. f. Virelmw, 1S91, p. 23; corroborated bv Schiitze. 

 "Cent. f. Pakt.. 1901 (29), 847. 



42 See also Covidalli. Vierteliahrschr. gerichtl. :Med., 1906 (32), 219; and 

 Schiitze, Arch. Hvg., -1912 (76), 116. 



