Analysis of 3130 cases of medicolegal postmortem

3130 cases of medicolegal postmortem in Shantou City between January 1977 and December 1996 were analyzed statistically. The results revealed that the ratio of male to female was 2.3 and most dead were young and middle age. The number of postmortem has increased in resent years. Of 3130 cases, 2829 (92.3%) were caused by mechanical injury, mechanical asphyxia, sudden death and poisoning. As to manners of the death, 1226 were related to accidents (39.2%), 776 homicide(29.8%), 658 suicide (21.0%). These results were compared with other studies reported in domestic and international literature.