The Remains of Doctor Bass Name: _____________________________

Written by Alan Bellows, 06/2008; adapted for A&P

Under normal circumstances, one would expect a wandering throng of students to demonstrate
animated displeasure upon encountering a human corpse in the woods; particularly a corpse as
fragrant and festering as that which was found on an August afternoon in Knoxville, Tennessee. From
a short distance the male figure almost appeared to be napping among the squirrels, draped as he was
over the pebbled ground. But something about his peculiar pose evoked a sense of grim finality– the
body language of the deceased.

Affectionately referred to as the Body Farm, the facility was founded in 1981 by Dr. Bill Bass 3, a
professor of anthropology at the university. Before the Body Farm was established, information on
human decay was inadequate, leaving criminal investigators poorly equipped for determining
abandoned bodies’ time of death. Dr. Bass took it upon himself to finally fill the forensic gap.

The professor convinced the university administration to set aside over an acre of woodland for his pioneering decay research. Barriers
were erected along the plot’s perimeter: an inner wooden “privacy fence,” and an outer layer of chain-link. For good measure, the
chain-link was garnished with a coil of prison-grade razor wire. A series of signs were installed which read: RESEARCH FACILITY.
BIOHAZARD. NO TRESPASSING.

As the lifeless subjects are interred into the grisly forest hideaway; at any given time, several dozen perished persons are scattered
around the hillside within automobiles, suitcases, shallow graves, pools of water, or laid directly upon the earth.

One of the facility’s first participants was a hog who was shot on the facility grounds. Within eighty-seven seconds a blow fly laid a
cluster of eggs, thereby tipping the first domino of decomposition. The predictable timing of infestation represents the main research
at the Body Farm: forensic entomology, the examination of insects for law-enforcement purposes. When a human victim is found
within twenty-four hours, the time of death can generally be determined by taking a temperature reading. Beyond that point, it is up to
the forensic anthropologists to examine the body and its bug collection.

Technically decomposition begins about four minutes after death, when cells are deprived of their usual supply of nourishment.
Absent these food molecules, digestive enzymes begin gnawing upon the cells themselves, a process called autolysis. Within a few
hours the chemicals that allow muscle fibers to slide freely are metabolized, causing a temporary profound stiffness known as rigor
mortis.

With the human immune system permanently off-line, the digestive bacteria in the gut gain the upper hand. These bacteria begin
nibbling on the body itself. As the host’s cells steadily self-destruct from autolysis, their membranes rupture, spilling the nutrient-rich
cell filling into the tissues. The bacteria thrive in this river of food, and they soon establish decomposition franchises at every
extremity. 6
Meanwhile, back on the surface, scores of flies are drawn to the fresh-corpse scent from up to a mile
away. They lay their eggs at every exposed opening, and soon the newborn maggots are making a meal
of the cadaver’s fat.
Over several days the spongy brain will liquefy and leak from the ears and mouth, while blisters form
on the skin which eventually evolve into large, peeling sheets. Often the skin from the hand will slough
off in one piece, an effect known as gloving. Body Farm researchers have discovered that such skin can
be soaked in warm water to restore its flexibility, and placed over a researcher’s hand for the purposes of fingerprint identification.
By day four or so, the sickly sweet smell of decay begins to saturate the air as bacterial byproducts such as putrescene and cadaverine
become concentrated. Insects have thoroughly colonized the cadaver, writhing mounds of maggots and swarms of flies are visible.
As the tenth day of decay approaches, bacteria induced bloating becomes pronounced. Sometimes this pressure is relieved via post-
mortem flatulence, but occasionally an over-distended abdomen will rupture with a wet pop. Soon the soil beneath the corpse is
sodden with liberated liquids, while the skin– unappetizing to most insects– becomes mummified and draws in close to the bones.
Owing to the information harvested from the Body Farm, any forensic entomologist can now determine time of death when presented
with a reasonably fresh unembalmed corpse– sometimes to within an hour.
Dr. Bass has retired from teaching and has written a number of books about his experiences at the Facility. While the prospect of
having one’s naked, lifeless husk flung into the woods lacks general appeal, Dr. Bass himself has stated that his hatred of flies
compels him to decline the opportunity to rot for the benefit of science; but for some people, the idea of wasting a perfectly good
corpse is just too horrible to contemplate.

Questions: Name: _________________________________

____ 1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
a. Capture audience attention by describing a scene
b. Introduce the author’s point of view about remains
c. Establish a thesis, position, and purpose of the article

____ 2. Within the first three paragraphs, several descriptive words are used. Within the context of the writing, can you
match each word with its synonym. (A synonym is a word that means the same thing)

____ throng a. gloomy, somber

____ animated b. group, mob
____ festering c. odd, unique
____ peculiar d. decaying, rotting
____ grim e. energetic, spirited

___ 3. What does this sentence mean? “Affectionately referred to as the Body Farm, the facility was founded in 1981 by
Dr. Bill Bass”
a. the facility’s name, “the Body Farm” is not official, it’s just what people call it
b. Dr. Bill Bass gave the facility its name because he was the founder
c. the facility took many years to establish

___ 4. What was Dr. Bass’ purpose for establishing The Body Farm?
a. help investigators determine the cause of death
b. help forensic teams establish the time of death
c. help college students learn about anthropology

5. What measures were taken to keep outsiders from entering the Body Farm? (On the reading, place a #4 next to the
paragraph or sentence that answers this question )

____ 6. The stiffness that occurs in a body after death is called:

a. autolysis b. putrescence c. rigor mortis

_____ 7. What does the statement: “The bacteria thrive in this river of food, and they soon establish decomposition
franchises at every extremity.” mean?
a. bacteria begin to decompose at many different areas of the body
b. bacteria can only decompose a body when they are given franchises
c. bacteria increase in number at the initial site of autolysis

_____ 8. How can scientists get a fingerprint from the deceased?

a. drying the hand under a light b. soaking the skin in water c. examining insect egg patterns

_____ 9. Putrescene and cadavarine are chemicals that are responsible for:
a. the rapid decomposition of a corpse
b. the chemicals used to preserve corpses
c. the characteristic smell of a decaying corpse

10. Why is the author declining to have his own body donated to research at the body farm?
a. too expensive b. religious reasons
c. hatred of insects d. afraid students would make fun of him