General Toxicology

Dr Jiju V. S.,Asst. Police Surgeon,

Medical College, Kottayam

TOXICOLOGY

Toxicology is the science which deals with

poisons with reference to their sources,

properties, mode of action, symptoms,

lethal dose, nature of the fatal results,

treatment, method of their detection and

estimation and autopsy findings

POISONS

Poison is a substance which when

administered, inhaled or ingested is

capable of acting deleteriously on

the human body

THE LAWS OF POISONS

The drugs and cosmetic act 1940

The pharmacy act 1948

Drugs control act 1980

Narcotic drugs and psychotropic

substances act 1985

CLASSIFICATION OF POISONS ACCORDING TO MODE OF ACTION

Corrossives

– Acids and alkalies

Irritants

– Metallic, nonmetallic, organic

vegetables, animals, mechanical

Neurotics

– Somniferous, inebrians

Deleriants

Spinal

Cardiac

Asphyxiants

Peripheral poisons

CLASSIFICATION OF POISONS ACCORDING TO MODE OF ACTION …

ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION

Enteral

Parenteral

Inhalaional

External application

Introduction into natural orifice

ACTION OF POISONS

Local

Remote

Combined remote and local

General action

FACTORS MODIFYING ACTION OF POISONS

Dose and quantity

Form of poison

Method of administration

Condition of the body

TYPE OF POISONING

Acute

Chronic

Sub acute

Fulminant

FATE OF POISONS IN THE BODY

DIAGNOSIS OF POISONING

In the Living

In the Dead

DIAGNOSIS OF POISONING - In the Living

A/c or C/c

DIAGNOSIS OF POISONING - In the Dead

PM examination

Chemical analysis

MEDICO-LEGALDUTY OF DOCTOR IN SUSPECTED CASE OF POISONING

Medical Duties and Legal Duties

MEDICAL DUTY

Care and treatment of the patient

LEGAL DUTYAssist the police to determine the

manner of deathRecord the preliminary particulars

and keep the recordsAll cases need not be informed to the

policeIf patient dies, death certificate

should not be issued

TREATMENT OF POISONSRemoval of unabsorbed poisons from

the bodyImmediate resuscitative measuresUse of antidotsElimination of un absorbed poisonsTreatment of General Symptoms and

General MeasuresMaintenance of the patients general

condition and follow up

ANTIDOTS

Are remedies which counteract or

neutralise the effect of poisons

without causing appreciable harm to

the body

CLASSIFICATION OF ANTIDOTS

Mechanical / Physical

Chemical

Physiological / Pharmacological

Universal

To Conclude