Abstract
Of the 9, 328 autopsy records of the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office from 1978 to 1982, 83 cases were diagnosed as death from cold. Of the 83 cases (74 males and 9 females), a greater number of males was of forties and fifties. Most of the males were inebriate and/or vagabond. The urban hypothermia was found more often at environmental temperatures from 0 to 5°C in December, January and February. Sixty-three cases were found outdoors; on a road, at an open space, in a public lavatory, etc. Most of them were of poor physique and poorly nourished.
Chronic lesions of liver such as fatty degeneration, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis, probably due to alcoholism were found in many cases. Alcoholic concentration of 1.5-2.4 mg/ml was detected in their blood, which means that they were at medium drunkenness, and of over 2.5 mg/ml was often detected in the forties and fifties.
