Question

What is the smell of mummified body?

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

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The question tests the characteristic feature of a mummified corpse, which is a dry form of post-mortem change seen in hot, arid, ventilated environments.

Step 2: In mummification the body loses water quickly and the soft tissues become hard, leathery and brown; this dehydration halts the bacterial breakdown that normally generates malodorous gases.

Step 3: With removal or drying of the gut and viscera, the substrate for foul-smelling decay is gone, so the remains give off essentially no odour.

Step 4: The smells described as putrid, pungent or offensive are all hallmarks of wet putrefaction and do not apply to a properly mummified body. \[\boxed{\text{Odourless}}\]