One hundred coroners' cases were examined for the presence of post-mortem pink teeth. Four cases were found. The pink teeth were subjected to biochemical analysis by means of thin layer chromatography and spectral analysis in an attempt to isolate the compound causing the discoloration. The compound isolated from powdered pink dentine was found to be protoporphyrin. The reason why this phenomenon occurs in some cases and not in others suffering identical forms of violent death remains unsolved at present.
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