Collection And Preservation of evidence In Metallic Poisoning Cases

Niranjana.S.Karandikar MSc-I Roll No.12

Toxicology
Science deals with poison with rest to Source, Properties, Mode of action, Symptoms, Nature Of Fatal Results, Treatment, Method Of Detection and Estimation ,and Autopsy Findings.

POISON
Substance which when administered, inhaled or ingested is capable of acting deleteriously on the human body.

Mode OF Action

Corrosives Organic

Irritants Inorganic

Neurotics

Cardiac

Asphyxiants

Miscellaneo us

Cerebral plant

animal

Metallic

Non Metallic

spinal Mechanical

peripheral

Poisoning
Acute: Symptoms develop soon after administration Chronic: Symptoms develop gradually

Metallic Poisons
Arsenic Mercury Lead Copper Thallium Zinc

Evidence Collection
Sources: 1. The Scene 2. Eye witnesses 3. The victim 4. The attending doctor 5. Drug store, chemical stores, herbarium 6. The autopsy surgeon 7. The culprit 8. Vehicle(if any)

The Crime Scene

Vomitus Purged Material Urine or faceal stains Clothes, bed sheets, bed covers Medicines (used by family or victim) All containers Of medicine Remains of food and Drinks Containers found lying around or in garbage Utensils Substances in traps of the sink

The Victim
Most Important source of evidence Dead or Alive

Dead
Clothes Stains Autopsy Material

Autopsy Material
Blood:from artery or vein or heart or chronic gutter-500 ml Urine: total amount recover from catheter or opening Stomach contents-whole Intestine with contents-30 cm Liver+Gall Bladder with contents-100g Half of each kidney Spleen: half in adult, whole in children

Also helpful
Brain-whole Lung-One Heart -whole Muscles-500 g Bone-500 g Hair and Nails-10 g

Non Fatal Cases

Purges and Vomitus Saliva and other excretory stains Urine: whole amount Stomach Washings Blood-500 ml or more The clothes Residual food, containers, drugs, medicines

Preservation
For Viscera: absolute alcohol or rectified spirit. Exception: alcohol, chloroform,chloral hydrate, formaldehyde, ether, phosphorus (alcohol prevents the luminosityof phosphorus in dark) etc. Blood should be preserved in fluoride, oxalate, E.D.T.A., gold chloride or citrate Urine and clothes: without any preservative.

 Chain Of Custody to be made and maintained.

References
Sharma, B.R. : Forensic Science in Criminal Investigaion and Trials, Central Law Agency, Allahabad, 1974. Krishnamurthy, R., Introduction to Forensic Science in Crime Investigation, 2011,Selective & Scientific Books, New Delhi. Parikh C.K; Text Book of Medical Jurisprudence Forensic Medicines and Toxicology. CBS Pub. New Delhi (1999)

THANK YOU