Abstract
Dear Editor:
Veterinary forensic pathology is an emerging discipline that plays an important role in addressing the ever-increasing public interest in, and concern over, animal welfare. In the 1800s, Western countries began to view animals as “sentient beings” rather than “things,” and as such would benefit from legal protection. This led, in the 20th century, to legislation that has changed the legal landscape regarding animal welfare. 1,2
Open-minded, meticulous investigation, objectivity, and precise methodology characterize the discipline of forensic veterinary pathology. Attention to detail is also vital when writing reports of a standard suitable as evidence in law courts. Cadaver, carcase, and carrion are words available for use in relation to the body of a dead animal. However, because of the subtle connotations of each of these words, it is useful to examine them etymologically, if bias is to be limited in a forensic report.
Cadaver is a Latin word derived from “cadere” (to fall), suggesting a fall from life to death. This word is commonly used for a human “dead body” for dissection, but it applies equally to the bodies of other species.
Carcase derives from the Latin words “càr-o” and “càpsa,” meaning meat and case, respectively. It refers, in meat inspection and slaughterhouse terminology, to the body of a slaughtered animal after removal of the offal.
Carrion has its roots in the same Latin word “càr-o” (meat), which let to Vulgar Latin into caronia. Carrion is used to indicate decaying and putrefaction flesh of dead animals, including human flesh, with a nuance of repulsiveness.
In the Western world, for historical and religious reasons, different words have been applied to dead human bodies vis-à-vis other species. 3 However, in light of the current concept of “One Health” and the etymology summarized above, we suggest that the use of cadaver in forensic veterinary reports is preferable to carcase. It follows that the description “cadaver showing advanced postmortem change” is more suitable than the word carrion.
