Abstract
In evaluating the blood alcohol content of human corpses in a state of extensive putrefaction problems often arise due to the fact that alcohol is formed post mortem in the body. Using rats as a more elaborated animal model factors influencing the extent of alcohol formation post mortem like starvation or glucose application before death were investigated. Ethanol and to some extent N-propanol are formed in all organs and blood depending on the state of nutrition, i.e. availability of carbohydrates. Most probably, fungi seem to be involved in the process of alcohol formation.