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Abstract: Objective To discuss the application value of diatom examination in lung tissue for the forensic diagnosis of drowning. Methods The experimental animals were divided randomly into drowning, postmortem submergence and dying on land group. Diatoms in lung tissue and drowning fluid were analyzed quantitatively by microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy diatom examination method. The ratios of content of diatoms in lung tissue and drowning fluid （ C L /C D ratio） were recorded. Results The C L /C D ratios of experimental rabbits in the drowning group （5.82±3.50） were much higher than that of postmortem submergence group （0.47±0.35）; the C L /C D ratios of different parts of the lung lobes of experimental pigs in the drowning group were higher than that of postmortem submergence group （ P <0.05）; in seawater, brackish water, river fresh water and lake fresh water, the C L /C D ratios of experimental pigs in the drowning group were higher than that of postmortem submergence group （ P <0.05）. In animal experiments, all the cases with C L /C D ratio >1.6 were from drowning group. Conclusion C L /C D ratio is an indicator with good application prospects in the diagnosis of drowning., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine.)