The Expedition: The Forgotten Story of a Polar Tragedy by Bea Uusma

Author:Bea Uusma [Uusma, Bea]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781781859612
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2014-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

FRÆNKEL’S REMAINS ON WHITE ISLAND

As recorded in the autopsy report

1. The upper half of Frænkel’s body was found by the tent, lying on its left side, his head resting on his left arm. The cranium, thoracic vertebrae, left arm and left hand were all connected. The cranium was virtually undamaged. The largest horizontal circumference was 21 inches. A lump of decomposed tissue the size of an orange was found inside the skull.

2. There were 15 healthy teeth in the maxilla. There were 13 teeth in the mandible. All teeth were intact and showed no significant signs of wear. The projections of the right-hand processes of the mandible were missing; rough surfaces indicate a break.

3. Two ribs were packed in a separate parcel. The parcel also contained pieces of scalp, two the size of a palm, the rest smaller. Some of the pieces had a scattering of light brown hairs loosely attached. It would appear the scalp was separated from the cranium when it was excavated.

4. The right humerus was found separately at the periphery of the camp. The bone was wrapped in a striped linen sleeve.

5. The left humerus was not connected to the bones of the forearm. The inferior half of the humerus was sheathed in a significant amount of decomposed muscle.

6. Ten loose vertebrae were found inside Frænkel’s clothing. Seven rib fragments were also discovered, of which two were still attached to their respective vertebra, as well as one scapula and one collar bone. Decomposing muscle, fatty tissue and dermis were present on the posterior side of one vertebra.

7. The left radius and ulna were organically connected and covered in significant amounts of decomposing muscle.

8. The right radius, ulna and hand were not found.

9. The pelvis (including the sacrum) and four connected lumbar vertebrae (L2–5) were found 165 feet from the camp. A piece of L2, constituting approximately a third of the body of the vertebra, was attached to L3. L3–L5 showed signs of minor anterior bone density reduction. They were connected by ligaments. A few areas showing signs of decreased bone density, characterised by cancellous (internal, porous) bone tissue, were noted on the superior anterior edge of the pubic bone. The iliac crest on the left hip bone showed signs of gnawing, particularly on the inside of the pelvis, leaving mostly the cortical substance of the outer surface of the iliac crest (external, harder bone tissue). The surface of the exposed trabecular bone (internal, porous bone tissue) was uneven and jagged.

10. The left hand was connected to the bones of the forearm by tendons and decomposed tissue. The bones of the hand, all of which were found, were covered in decomposing tissue. The nails of some fingers were still attached.

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