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**Chapter 15**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

secretively.

nerves, etc.

**297**

system and then it affects the person.

**2. Action of poisons**

Toxicology

*Amarnath Mishra*

cause death if not treated properly.

Forensic Chemistry and

**Keywords:** poison, mode of action, alcohol, forensic analysis

ED50, tells whether the chemical is safe or not.

The current chapter deals with forensic chemistry & toxicology which is completely based on the introduction and classification of poisons and their impacts on the body and the factors affecting them and detection and examination of poisons. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss their mode of action and function once they reached in the human body. The impacts of poisons are severe and even

Four hundred years back, Paracelsus stated that, "All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison." If the right dose is taken, it could become a remedy, otherwise poisonous [1, 2]. The therapeutic index or ratio, i.e., LD50/

Poisons are generally found in cases of homicides, suicides, or accidents. They have a significant role to play as the silent weapon to destroy life mysteriously and

Every poison has almost similar action on the victim's body. In many cases, they either stop the transfer of O2 to the tissues or create an obstacle in the respiratory system by inhibition of enzymes which are associated with the process. In this, the myoneural junction and the ganglions and synapses are the sites of action. In some cases of insecticidal poisoning, hyperexcitement of voluntary and involuntary muscles can cause death. There are four categories of action of poisons—(i) local action,

**Local action:** Local action means direct action on the affected site of the body. Examples include irritation and inflammation in strong mineral acids and alkalis, congestion and inflammation by irritants, the effect on motor and sensory

**Remote action:** Remote action affects the person due to absorption of that poison into the system of that person. For example, alcohol is absorbed in the

**Local and remote actions:** Some poisons can affect both local and remote organs. Thus, they not only affect the area with contact to the poison but also cause

toxic effect after absorption into the system, for example, oxalic acid.

(ii) remote action, (iii) local and remote actions, and (iv) general action.

## **Chapter 15**
