Forensic toxicology and poisoning

Question 1

Helpful signs and symptoms to detect acute poisoning

Answer 1

• sudden onset of symptoms after taking food/drink/substance
• multiple individuals suffering
• characteristic effect of drug
• simple pharmacological tests

Question 2

Classification of poisons

Answer 2

• agricultural
• industrial
• domestic
• flora
• fauna
• bacterial food poisoning

Question 3

Things to look at in autopsy of a poisoning

Answer 3

• odour of gastric content
• coloured material in stomach
• GIT
• skin discolouration
• skin rash
• gum discolouration
• liver damage
• lungs
• heat

Question 4

Factors that affect the action of a poison

Answer 4

• dose
• rate and route of absorption
• host factors
• poison factors

Question 5

Host factors that affect the action of a poison

Answer 5

• idiosyncrasy
• age
• habit
• health

Question 6

Poison factors that affect the action of a poison

Answer 6

• concentration
• chemical form
• physical states

Question 7

Duty of a medical practitioner in cases of suspected poisoning:

Answer 7

• note time of occurence of symptoms
• relation to taking food, fluid or medicine
• note if symptoms are intermittent or increasing
• previous condition of health
• inspect vomitus and sample
• sample peccant, fluid, food or medicine, urine and faeces for analysis
• has food been eaten previously?
• possible explanation
• note conduct of those looking after patient

Question 8

Proof of poisoning based on:

Answer 8

• evidence of signs and symtpoms
• demonstration by chemical analysis of presence of poison in some food or drug product
• demonstration by chemical analysis of the presence of toxic substance in tissues and body fluids
• demonstrate gross or histological findings associated with toxic substance
• history of exposure to specific toxin
• absence of other cause of death

Question 9

Routine specimens taking in poisoning

Answer 9

• stomach and contents
• whole liver
• both whole kidneys
• blood
• urine

Question 10

Other possible specimens taken in poisoning

Answer 10

• early vomitus or stomach washings
• brain (barbiturates)
• hair and nails
• large intestine (heavy metal poisoning)

Question 11

Definition of a poison

Answer 11

Any substance that is capable of causing illness or death in a living organism when introduced or absorbed