Forensic Toxicology

Paper Code: 
CFRS 611
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: After studying this paper the students will know –

CO 1: The significance of toxicological studies in forensic science.

CO 2: The classification of poisons and their modes of actions.

CO 3: The absorption of poisons in body fluids.

CO 4: The forensic identification of illicit liquors.

CO 5: The classification and characteristics of the narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.

CO 6: The menace of designer drugs.

CO 7: The methods of identifying and purifying narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.

 
12.00
Unit I: 
Unit 1: Basics of Toxicology

Significance of toxicological findings. Techniques used in toxicology. Toxicological analysis and chemical intoxication tests.

Postmortem Toxicology. Human performance toxicology.

Dose-response relationship. Lethal dose 50 and effective dose 50.

 
Unit II: 
Unit 2: Poisons

Classification of poisons. Physico-chemical characteristics and mode of action of poisons. Accidental, suicidal and homicidal poisonings.

Signs and symptoms of common poisoning and their antidotes. Collection and preservation of viscera, blood and urine for various poison cases.

Identification of biocides and metal salts in body fluids. Metabolism and excretion of poisons. Application of immunoassays in forensic work.

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Unit 3: Animal and Plant Poisons

Animal poisons. Snake venom. Mode of action. Carbon monoxide poisoning. Vegetable poisons. Poisonous seeds, fruits, roots and mushrooms. Dhatura, Papavar somniferum, atropa belladonna, Marking nut, Nux vomica, oleander, Aconite, abrus, cannabis sativa, Coca, croton

12.00
Unit IV: 
Unit 4: Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

Broad classification – Narcotics, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens. General characteristics and common example of each classification. Natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.

Beverages. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic illicit liquors. Analysis and identification of ethyl alcohol. Estimation of ethyl alcohol in blood and urine. Proof spirit.

Crime scene management in illicit liquor cases.

 
12.00
Unit V: 
Unit V: Crime Scene Narcotics

Crime scene search for narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances – searching a suspect, searching a dwelling, searching a vehicle.

Clandestine drug laboratories. Collection and preservation of drug evidence. Testing of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances collected from Crime scenes.

 
Essential Readings: 

  • R. Saferstein, Criminalistics, 8th Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (2004).

  • F.G. Hofmann, A Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, New York (1983).

  • S.B. Karch, The Pathology of Drug Abuse, CRC Press, Boca Raton (1996).

  • Poklis, Forensic toxicology in, Introduction to Forensic Sciences, 2nd Edition, W.G. Eckert (Ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton (1997).

  • A.W. Jones, Enforcement of drink-driving laws by use of per se legal alcohol limits: Blood and/or breath concentration as evidence of impairment, Alcohol, Drug and Driving, 4, 99 (1988).

Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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