Semecarpus Anacardium(Marking Nut)

Question 1

Why is semecarpus anacardium also known as washing nut?

Answer 1

Because it’s used by washerman to mark clothes for identification

Question 2

What is the poisonous part of semecarpus?

Answer 2

Fruit
(Black
Roughly cone shaped nut
Thick pericarp)

Question 3

What’s the nature of semecarpus juice?

Answer 3

It’s brown
Acrid
Oily

Question 4

What’s the active principle of semecarpus anacardium?

Answer 4

Semecarpol
Bhilawanol

Question 5

What signs and symptoms appear if semecarpus is applied locally on skin?

Answer 5

Irritation+painful blisters (acrid serum)
Eczematous eruption
Bruise like

Question 6

What will happen to the person if ingested marking nut?

Answer 6

Juice is less irritant
But if dose inc
>Blisters in mouth and throat
>Severe gastroenteritis
>Dyspnea
>Tachycardia
>Coma
>Death

Question 7

What is the fatal dose and period of semecarpus anacardium (Washing nut)?

Answer 7

Fatal dose is 5 to 10 grams
And fatal period is 12 to 24 hrs

Question 8

What treatment should follow semecarpus poisoning?

Answer 8

Symptomatic to relieve irritant effect
Local (wash ,apply liniments)

Question 9

What’s the medicolegal importance of semecarpus anacardium?

Answer 9

Abortion
Artificial bruise (to put false charges on someone, can’t differentiate from real bruise)
To Conjunctivitis (fake illness to get a leave)

Question 10

What’s important for the postpartum finding of washing nut poisoning?

Answer 10

The blister fluid should be preserved in rectified spirit and sent to forensic lab for analysis