Careful consideration of the scene, clothing, victim size, activity and physical factors must be considered in interpreting cooling rate. The Glaister equation is one formula used for determining the approximate time period since death based on body temperature. For example, a deceased person who has been in a closed car all day with the sun shining on the car who is observed at night could not be expected to cool in a regular manner. In fact, an individual in this situation may well have a body temperature above normal . Several individuals who have studied the effects of body cooling suggest that the rate is not constant, but rather more heat is lost during the first few hours, then as the body begins to reach ambient temperature, the rate of heat loss slows.
Liquid is digested faster than semi-solid food, which is digested fasted than solid food.
Emotional state may also influence the rate of stomach emptying. Psychogenic pylorspasm prevents stomach emptying for several hours. Hyper motility may cause diarrhea. The body maintains an increased concentration of potassium in the intracellular fluid. This increase is 2- to 40 time the concentration of potassium within the plasma.