Medical Jurisprudence - Poison

5/27/2018 Medical Jurisprudence - Poison

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Q. Define Poison? Classification of Poison. Classification on the basis of their modeof action. How is poisoning diagnosed? What are the symptoms of Opium poisoningand what is its cure? What are the duties of Medical officer in case of suspectedpoisoning?

Poisons are subs tances that can cause disturbances to organisms , usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the

molecular scale, when a s ufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism. Any subs tance dangerous to living organisms th

applied internally or externally, destroy the action of vital functions or prevent the continuance of life.

Those substances which, when applied to the organs of the body, are capable of altering or destroying, in a majority of

cases , some or all of the functions necessary to life, are called poisons.

As per law, any substance, irrespective of its quali ty or quantity, when given with an intention to endanger, injure, or kill a

person is called a poison.

As per Section 284 of IPC - Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance

whoever does, with any poisonous subs tance, any act in a manner s o rash or negligent as to endanger hum an life, or to

likely to cause hurt or injury to any person, or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any poisonous

substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such poisonous

subs tance, shal l be punis hed with imprisonm ent of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with

which may extend to one thousand rupees , or with both.

Classification -on the basis or their mode of action -

1. Corrosives-

1. Acids-

1. Inorganic: HCL, HNO3, H2SO4 (Oil of vitriol)

2. Organic: Oxalic Acid, Phenol

2. Alkalies- NaOH, Ca(OH)2, KOH

3. Metallic Salts:Zinc Chloride, Ferrus Chloride, Chromates and Bichromates of alkalis

2. Irritants-

1. Inorganic

1. Non metallic - Phosphorus , chlorine, bromine, iodine

2. Metallic - Arsenic, Lead, antimony, bismuth, zinc, silver, mercury, copper

2. Organic

1. Vegetable - Castor oil seed, croton oil, madar, and aloes,

2. Animal - Cantherides, snakes, and insect bites

3. Mechanical- Diamond dust, powdered glass, and hair

3. Systemic

1. Affecting the nervous system i.e. Neurotics

1. Affecting the brain

1. Somniferous: Reduce pain and induce sleep : Opium and its alkaloids barbiturate

2. Inebriant: They intoxicate and induce symptoms of excitement as well as narcosis : Alchoho

ether, chloroform

3. Deliriant: Cerebral poisons which cause deli rium i.e. imaginary talks, images, feelings etc.

Dhatura, belladonna, hysos ymous, cannabis indica

2. Affecting the spinal cord: Nux vomica, gelsemium


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3. Affecting the perepheral nerves: Curare and conium

2. Affecting the cardio vascular system - Aconite, digial is , oleander, tobacco, and hydrocyanic acid

3. Affecting the respiratory system - aka Asphyxiants : cause respiratory failure: Poisonous irrespirable gases

such as Carbon monoxide, phosphine

Diagnosis of poisoning -

1. In the living -

1. If the onset of symptoms is sudden - usually after a meal, drink, or a dose of medicine. The patient's habit

working conditions, daily activities must be analysed.2. Sometimes symptoms are uniform in character and rapidly increase in severity followed by death or early

recovery. One poison may be neutralized by other or increase the potency of other. For example, barbi turat

with alcohol.

3. Persons taking same food displaying same symptoms.

4. Detection of poison in the food, medicine, vomit, urine, or stool.

2. In the dead -

1. Post mortem appearance

1. External Examination - odour, stain, skin condition

2. Internal Examination - Hyperaemea (redness of mucus), softning, ulceration, perforation

2. Chemical analysis - Urine, blood, stains, viscera

3. Moral and circums tantial evidence

General Treatment of poisoning:

1. Removal of unabsorbed poison - cleaning, suction, stomach wash

2. Antidote for neutralizing absorbed poison - activated charcoal, chelates

3. Removal of absorbed poison and its intermediary subs tances - catharsis, enema

4. Symptomatic relief

Symptoms of Opium Poisoning -

The effect of opium upon the respiration is very important, and therein lies its danger as a lethal agent. In very small dos e

is said to stimulate respiration, but large doses powerfully depress breathing, and in fatal opium poisoning death is usua

due to asphyxia through centric respiratory paralysis . In a very short time, under a poisonous dose, drows iness comes o

soon followed by profound stupor. The patient becomes apparently quite sens eless , and lies without other observablemotion than that of respiration, which is very slow, and not unfrequently stertorous. A dark suffusion of the countenance

comes on, with an utter want of express ion. When a toxic dose of morphine or opium has been taken there occur sympto

which may be grouped under three stages:

1. The first, or stage of excitation, may be absent; or if present, be of very short duration.

2. In the second stage, depress ion speedily comes on with a full and slow pulse, suspension of the cerebral functio

overpowering drows iness followed by a deep sleep with slow and stertorous breathing, suffused, flushed or cyan

countenance, strongly contracted pupils , warm dry skin, and m uscular pros tration. The patient may be aroused by

shaking, flagellation, or loud shouting, but as s oon as undisturbed sinks again into a deep s lumber. If he is not k

awake and breathing stimulated, he pass es almos t imperceptibly into the final or lethal stage.

3. In the third or lethal stage coma is absolutely complete. The face, at first turgid or livid, becomes pale and the lips

livid, the extremities are cold, the pupils minutely contracted (pin-point myosis), the dry skin gives way to the sweadeath, the breathing becomes progress ively slower and s lower, shallow and labored, until it finally ends in a s oft

almost imperceptible respiration. Death then takes place from respiratory paralysis or asphyxia, though the heart

stops almost immediately after breathing ceases.

Opium diminishes all the secretions except that of the sweat. Normal diaphoresis remains unabated or is increased. Op

causes retention, rather than suppression, of the urine, though the secretion of the urine is thought to be somewhat inhib

by the drug. Opium very pronouncedly checks the secretions of the intestines and arrests peris talsis , chiefly by stimulatio

the splanchnic inhibitory nervous apparatus. The result is constipation. On the other hand toxic doses may paralyze the

inhibition and thus stimulate peristalsis.

Opium moderately elevates temperature unless the dose be toxic. In that event the body-heat is reduced. Opium lim its


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tissue-waste by decreasing the output of urea and other nitrogenous detritus.

Treatment of Opium Poisoning

The treatment of acute opium poisoning must be prompt and unremitting. There is no antidote to opium which can be re

on. Naloxone is a drug used to counter the effects of opioid overdose, for example heroin or morphine overdose. Naloxon

specifically used to counteract life-threatening depress ion of the central nervous system and respiratory system. The

important indications are to evacuate the stomach, and to support the system in the state of prostration which follows the

direct influence of the poison.

1. Owing to the fact that the vomiting centers and the peripheral nerves of the stomach are depressed by toxic dosesopium, emetics do not act well. They should be tried, however, as well as other means of inducing vomiting, as

tickling the throat, etc., but should not be relied upon.

2. Washing out the stomach by lavage is to be preferred, and should be repeated at short intervals because morphi

is readi ly eliminated from the blood-current into the stomach, and continuation of the poisoning may be maintaine

through its reabsorption. In the meantime a solution of potass ium permanganate (3 to 5 grains in a half pint of wa

should be given to destroy the morphine.

3. Strong black coffee administered freely by mouth and by rectum.

4. The all-important necess ity is to keep the patient breathing, as depression of respiration is the mos t dangerous

feature of opium poisoning. For this purpose s trychnine sulphate (1/30 to 1/10 grain) preferably, or atropine or

cocaine is to be used. Amm onia or alcohol may be needed to support both the heart and respiration. While death

probably does not take place because of the deep s leep or narcosis , it is absolutely necessary to keep the patien

awake in order to have his co-operation and voluntary effort to keep up breathing, and thus fight the depression of

respiratory centers. The patient should be walked between two attendants constantly, and flagellated with hot and

cold wet towels, or switches, artificial respiration performed or the faradic current applied to the skin.

5. To prevent reabsorption of the drug from the urine, catherization should be resorted to several times.

Duties of Medical Officer in case of suspected posioning

(Duties can be classified into legal and medical)

1. Medical practitioner must be very cautious in giving his opinion about poisoning.

2. Never give verbal or written opinion on mere sus picion.

3. Maintain proper record of his findings and the treatment adminis tered.

4. In case of acute poisoning, he mus t try to find out the nature of the sus pected poison so that he can administer

appropriate treatment.

5. In case of slow poisoning, he should make notes of the symptoms exhibited.

6. Collect the vomitted matter and 24 hrs urine and get them analysed for poison.

7. Call another collegue for consultation and the patient be removed to a hospi tal, where the doctor in charge should

informed about the suspicion.

8. If the patient cannot be removed to the hospital, two trained nurses mus t be employed to take charge of the patien

9. Nust preserve all the evidence such as vomit, stomuch wash and samples of urine and faeces in clean glass jars

with appropriate labels , in s trict lock and key.

10. Must preserve any other evidence such as cup or spoon which has been used in taking the poison. Failing to do t

might render the MP liable under S. 201 of IPC for making the evidence disappear.

11. If an MP in private practice is suspicious that the case is of homicidal pois oning, he is bound by S. 39 of CrPCto

inform this to the police or a magistrate. Non compliance is punis hable under S. 176 of IPC. This rule does not ap

if the MP sus pects the case to be of suicidal poisoning. However, he is bound to divulge all the information ifsummoned under S. 175 of CrPC. If he conceals any information or gives false information, he will be liable unde

193 and 202 of IPC.

To avoid these difficulties, it is suggested that all cases of poisoning be treated as homicidal poisoning and the

question of suicide be decided by the police.

12. A MO of a Govt. hospital is required to report to the police all cases of poisoning whether accidental, suicidal, or

homicidal.

13. If the poisoning proves fatal, the doctor mus t never grant a death certificate but mus t report the facts of death to the

nearest police officer.

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Medical Jurisprudence - Poison