Question

What is the smell of mummified body?

• A. Odourless
• B. Putrid
• C. Pungent
• D. Offensive

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Mummification is a process where a body undergoes desiccation, resulting in preservation. This occurs under specific environmental conditions where dehydration prevents the decomposition process that typically produces offensive odors. As bacteria and microbial activity are inhibited, mummified remains tend to be odourless. This is in contrast to other postmortem changes like putrefaction, which commonly results in putrid or offensive smells. The absence of moisture is crucial in mummification, as it halts the usual decomposition process which involves bacteria and enzymes that produce gases and odors. Thus, the correct understanding is that mummified bodies lack the characteristic smells of decay, making them odourless.