Poisoning homicidal

Hundreds of deaths associated with parathion exposure have been reported. These deaths have resulted from accidental, suicidal, and homicidal poisonings. It has been the cause of most crop worker poisonings in the United States. Fatal human poisonings have resulted from ingestion, skin exposure, and inhalation (with varying degrees of skin exposure). 

Methods for the identification and determination of pharmaceutical drugs in the forensic setting are required in order to detect their abuse and misuse (e.g., accidental or suicidal overdosage, homicidal poisoning, illicit performance enhancement). Some pharmaceutical drugs may also enhance the toxic potential of illicit drugs and/or alcohol and their determination is necessary in order to ascertain cases of mixed-drug intoxications. 

Alkaloids are pharmaceutically active compounds contained in plants. Some of them exhibit also important toxic properties and may be encountered in forensic toxicology as a cause of accidental, suicidal, or homicidal poisonings. 

The analysis of tissue samples was formerly a prerequisite of any toxicological examination, but it is less important now provided that the laboratory has sensitive, instrumental methods in routine use. However, analysis of the liver is essential when a full range of body fluids cannot be obtained, or if the detailed analysis of these fluids fails to provide an answer. For these reasons, liver should still be requested as a routine specimen in every postmortem case. It is doubtful if the supply and analysis of a full set of body organs, advocated by many classical toxicology textbooks, can now be justified for there is little evidence that such routines have uncovered homicidal poisonings that would otherwise have been overlooked. In general, the analysis of liver... 

The first name commemorates its success as a homicidal poison, for it is derived from the senior of three legendary Fates, Atropos, who cuts with shears the web of life spun and woven by her sisters Clothos and Lachesis (there is a minor synthetic atropine-like drug called lachesine). The term belladonna (Italian beautiful woman) refers to the once fashionable female practice of using an extract of the plant to dilate the pupils (incidentally blocking ocular accommodation) as part of the process of making herself attractive. 

Knight, B. Ricin a Potent Homicidal Poison. British Medical Journal, 3 350-351, 1979... 

Knight B (1979). Ricin — a potent homicidal poison. British Medical Journal 1, 350-351. 

FarreU M (1992). Poisons and Poisoners. An Encyclopedia of Homicidal Poisonings. Robert Hale Limited, London. 

It will rarely happen that in a case of suspected homicidal poisoning by arsenic, or by other poisons, the physician in charge will be willing or competent to conduct the chemical analyBis upon which probably the conviction or acquittal of the accused will mainly depend. Upon his knowledge and care, however, the success or futility of the chemist s labors depend in a great measure. 

Toxicology.—Aconite and aconitine have been the agents used iu quite a number of homicidal poisonings. 

At least, only 6 cases that were recognized as murder there is, of course, no record of the number of cases of homicidal poisoning that were buried under the convenient epitaph of death by natural causes. ... 

In postmortem assessment of exposure to inhaled PS, Buckley et al. (1984), recorded that PS was only one of several inhalants that produced lower respiratory tract lesions, hi a case of homicidal poisoning resulting in an exposure to PS, spotty discoloration and pulmonary edema were found in the postmortem examination (Gonmori et al., 1987). Death in this case occurred within 3 h of exposure. 

---