UNIT II: TOXICOLOGY

TOXICOLOGY - It is a scientific study of poisons that treat of

their nature, properties, effects and detection and the
treatment in case of poisoning.

POISON - It is a substance that when introduced into or

absorbed by a living organism in sufficient amounts causes
injury or death, chemically producing a morbid or noxious
condition. Classification of Poisons

According to Source or Origin

Animal Toxin - It is a poison produced by living organism

stimulating the production of antibodies. Usually transferred
through bites and stings of venomous terrestrial or marine
animals.
Ex: Poisonous snakes, scorpions, ants, jellyfish and
stingrays.

Vegetable - Poison ivy and jimsonweed plants. Mercuric

Chloride acid poison use as herbicide.

Mineral - Hydrochloric Acid, Caustic Alkali.

Microbial-It is produced by microscopic organisms. Ex bacteria

and fungi.

Synthetic - It is manufactured in the laboratory such as

drugs, pesticides as well as chemically purified from natural
sources such as metals from ores and solvents from gasoline.

According to Chemical Properties

Volatile Poisons - poisonous compounds that can be isolated

using steam distillation and analyzed using the Gas
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Chromatography. Example: (Acidic medium) Carbon Tetrachloride,
Chloroform, Methanol, Nitrobenzene (Basic medium) aniline,
amphetamine, nicotine

Gases - Poisonous gases that are not chemically detectable

however some may be isolated from blood or lung tissue.
Usually air samples are collected at the scene of exposure.
Example: Carbon Monoxide and Chlorine.

2.3. Non-volatile poisons - Poisons which can be collected by

means of extraction.
Example: drugs.

According to Physical Form/Property

Physical Form - Solid, liquid, gas, vapor or aerosol,

Influences the exposure and absorbability. Solid are not well
absorbed into the blood, they must be dissolved in aqueous
liquid lining the intestinal tract if ingested or respiratory
tract if inhaled.

According to Physiological Action

Irritants - By direct contact, this poison inflames the mucous

membrane or the parts it comes in contact resulting to nausea,
vomiting, pain and diarrhea. Examples: bromine, chlorides.

Corrosives - By direct contact, chemically produce local

destruction of tissues. Examples: Nitric Acid, Hydrochloric
Acid, Caustic Soda.

Neurotics - Those that affect the central nervous system.

Cerebral Neurotics (Narcotics) - Inducing drowsiness, sleep or

stupor, complete or incomplete insensibility or loss of
feeling. Example: tobacco, opium, alcohol.

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Spinal Neurotics (Tetanics) - A poison that acts on the spinal
cord producing spasmodic or continuous contractions of muscles
resulting in stiffness of the parts to which they are
attached. Example: bacterial disease "tetanus", picrotoxin.

Cerebrospinal Neurotics

4.3.3.1. Depressants - It is a substance that depresses or

retards the physiological action of an organ. Example:
antipyrine

4.3.3.2. Aesthetics/Exhaustive -A poison that cause marked or

loss of vital or muscular power or general weakness. Example:
digitalis, KCN.

4.3.3.3. Deliriants - These are poisons that act on the brain

causing disorder of metal functions resulting to confusion of
free will. Example: cocaine, belladonna

4.3.3.4. Systemic Poisons - It acts on the nervous system or

the organs of the body without eating or destroying tissue by
direct chemical action.

4.3.3.5. Cumulative Poison - This is the one that increases

suddenly in its intensity of action after gradual additions.
Example: arsenic.

According to their Effects on the Body/Target sites

Skin and Tissue - Those in which causes local destruction of

tissues and skin. Example: phenol and HC1.

Blood poisons - Carbon monoxide, hydrocyanic acid.

Nervous Poisons (Nervous System) -Convulsants - strychnine.

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Cardiac Poisons (Cardiovascular system) Stops the heart.
Example: digitalis.

Anesthetics - These are substances that produce sleep and

insensibility to pain. Ex: chloroforn, ether.

TYPES OF POISONING

According to Medical Point of View

Acute Poisoning - One in which there is prompt or marked

disturbance of the functions of death within a shorter period
of time due to taking of a strong poison in excessive single
dose or several doses at short interval.

Chronic Poisoning - It is a kind of poisoning in which there

is gradual deterioration of tissues and may or may not result
in death. It may be produced by taking several small doses at
long intervals and taking only toxic doses of the drug.

According to Legal Point of View

Accidental - It is a kind of poisoning in which the poison was

taken by the victim without the intention to cause disease,
death or injury.

Suicidal - It is a kind of poisoning in which the poison was

taken by the victim with the intention to cause death,
disease, or injury.

Homicidal - It is a kind of poisoning in which the poison was

given to the victim with the intention to cause death.

Conditions Modifying the Effects of Poisons

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Age, sex and physical state - Usually middle aged person
tolerate more than the aged and children.

Idiosyncrasy - This is the term applied when an individual

exhibits peculiar, unusual reactions to certain substances.

Habit - Repeated small doses of a poison generally lessen the

effect.

Tolerance - Some individuals exhibit a very noteworthy

resistance to the action of certain poisons.

Disease - This may cause an increase or diminished

susceptibility to drugs.

Exhaustion - Tends to increase susceptibility.

Sleep - Tends diminish or retard the action of poisons due to

lessened function activity.

POSOLOGY (DOSAGE) - It is a science which deals with the study

of the dosage of medicine to be administered within a certain
period.

Types of Dose

Safe dose- is one that does not cause harmful effects.

Sometimes, however, it may be too small to produce the desired
effects.

Minimum dose. It is the smallest amount of medicine that can

produce the desired therapeutic effect without causing harm.

Maximum dose. It is the largest amount that will cause no

injury but at the same time can produce the desired
therapeutic effects.
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Toxic or poisonous dose. It is the one that is harmful both to
the healthy and the sick.

Lethal of fatal dose. It is the dose that kills.

ANTIDOTE - It is any agent that neutralizes a poison or

otherwise counteracts or opposes its effect.

Kinds of Antidote

Mechanical Antidote. It is an agent that removes the poison

without changing it, or so coats the surface of the organ that
absorption is prevented.

Example:

Stomach tube or gastric lavage

Emetics - It is an agent that causes vomiting.

Cathartics - It is an agent that causes intestinal evacuation.

Demulcents - It is an agent that forms a protective film, to

soothe and protect the parts they are applied. Precipitants -
These are substances that prevent absorption of poisons by
precipitating them and rendering them insoluble.

Chemical, true or specific Antidote. It is one that makes the

poison harmless by chemically altering it.

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 UNIT III- TRACE EVIDENCE

TRACE EVIDENCE- These are materials left by any

suspect or Octim senæs as a link to a crime. This
includes impression (tire, bite, tool mark, etc),
hairs. fibers, glass and polymers (plastics), metallic
fragments, etc.

MOULAGE — It is the process of reproducing a faithful

representation of an object by taking an irnpression
using molding and casting technique.
Types of Moulage Impression

1. Molding —Positive impression usually the

impression itself.
2. Casting Negative impression of the cast taken.
Cases that require Moulage Examination
1. Tire and footwear pattern analysis
2. Bite and tooth impression
3. Tool marks and other scratches.

HAIR — Are composed primarily of protein called

keratin. These are the appendage of the skin that
covers the body except the palms of hands, soles of
feet and lips.
Parts of the Hair

1. External Structure — Refers to tip, shaft or

body of the hair and root.

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2. Internal Structure—Refers to cuticle, cortex
and medulla.
2.1. Cuticle — Outer covering of the hair shaft
that looks like the scale offish.
2.2. Cortex — The thickest layer of the hair
shaft which hold the coloring pigment of
the haili
2.3. Medulla — It is the center or core portion
of the hair shaft.

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FIBERS- Means any tough pliable, filament like substance
that can be spun or woven.
Classification of Fibers
1. Natural Fibers
1.1. Mineral Fiber
1.101. Asbestos — Found in nature in fibrous
forms, a hydrous silicate of magnesium or
iron.
1.2. Vegetable Fibers- These are fibers made up
of polymers of cellulose which come from
seed, stem or leaves of plants.
1.2.1. Cotton (seed fiber)
1.2.2. Linen (stem fiber)
1.2.3. Jute (stem fiber) used in making woven
mats and some linoleums.
1.2.4. Hemp (stem fiber) lighter than jute used
in ropes, cord or sacks.
1.2.5. Manila hemp (leaf fiber) used in making
twines and ropes.
1.2.6. Sisal (leaf fiber) — used in making mats,
ropes and strings.
1.3. Animal Fiber — These are sheep's wool and
silk.
2. Man-made Fibers /Synthetic Fibers — These are
nylon, acetate, polyesters and spandex.
Key to Fibers

1. Animal Fiber — Fibers that burn slowly and give

odor like that of a burning feather. When
removed from the flame, they do not continue
burning and a charred bead remain at the end of
the fiber. Fumes turn red litmus paper to blue.
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 1.1. Wool (Sulfur Fiber)
1.2. Silk (no sulfur content)
2. Vegetable Fiber — Fibers that burn rapidly with
a flame and give off but little smoke or fumes.
Charred bead not present when fibers are removed
from the flame. Fumes turn blue litmus paper to
red.

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