TOXICOLOGY

 Important poisonous snakes of India are Cobra, king cobra, common krait, banded krait, common green pit viper, russell's viper and saw scaled viper. The poisonous snakes are further classified on the bases of poison secreted by them into three main types- 1. Elapids (secreting neurotoxic venom)  2. Vipers (vasculotoxic venom) 3. Sea snake (myotoxic) 1. Elapids:-    It consist of cobra, king cobra, common krait, banded krait and coral. The head is nearly of the same width as that of neck, pupil are round, the fangs are situated anteriorly but being covered of fold of mucus membrane, tail is usually round.  2. Viper:-    This group consist of pit vipers and pitless viper, the head is triangular and wider than the neck and pupil is vertical. The fangs are long, movable and canalized with hypodermic needle. While bite of pit vipers seldom fatal to human beings, those of pitless viper are dangerous. The tail is tapering. The bamboo ...

Bees are flying insect closely related to wasps known for their role in producing honey and bees wasp. Sign and symptoms:- Skin reaction includes redness and itching. Flushed or pale face, difficulty in breathing, swelling in throat and tongue, burning and stinging pain. A weak, rapid pulse greater than 85, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea may present. Dizziness and fainting. Treatment:- Local wound care such as cleaning and applying ointment, any stingers that remains, also be removed.

Cantharides is also known as spanish fly. Spanish fly is about 2cm long and 0.75cm bro ad. The active principle is cantharidin. Which causes blister or vesicle on the skin. Therefore the spanish fly is also known as blister beatle or cantharis vesicatoria.  Symptoms and signs:- When applied to skin, inflammatory response results to 2-3hours and vesicles forms later. When swallowed symptoms appear about an hour. There is a burning sensation in the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and abdomen followed by intense thirst, difficulty in swallowing and nausea and vomiting of blood stained material. And diarrhea with blood and mucus. Nephrotoxic effects manifest as dull pain in the loins region and constant desire to micturate but also small amount of blood stained urine is passed. The inflammation extent to the urine bladder and urethra.  Fatal dose-  1.5gm of powder, 1ounce of tincture and 10mg cantharidin is regard as fatal dose. Fatal period-  It vari...

 The largest principle is not an alkaloid but a fat soluble oleoresin, cannabinol. The poison is absorbed both from the digestive and respiratory tract. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and is used in the following four forms- 1. Bhang-  It is prepared from the dry leaves and fruit. It contain the active and principle in a concentration of 15% and is least potent. 2. Majun-  This is a sweet made with bhang. 3. Ganja- This consist of the flowering tops and contain the active principle in concentration of about 25%. 4. Charas-  It is also known as Hashish. It is smoked with tobacco in a pipe or hukkah and is the most potent of all cannabis preparation containing the active principle in a concentration about 25%-40%. Sign and symptoms:- 1. The patient is pleased with himself and has a feeling of cheerfulness and well being. 2. He tends to become very talkative and his appetite is increased. 3. There is loss of perceptio...

Introduction:- Datura plant commonly found in waste places all over the India. There are two varieties - 1. Datura alba - A white flower plant 2. Datura niger - A black flower plant  Datura is also known as 'Thorn apple' because fruit are spherical and have sharp spines. The active principle contain the alkaloids are hyoscine or scopolamine, laevo hyosyamine and traces of atropine.  It is also known as Road poison. It is commonly encountered during a journey. The powdered seeds are mixed with food, tea or drink or pan and given to unwary traveler prior to robbery and kidnapping.  Sign and symptoms:- The earliest symptoms is bitter taste in mouth, there is dryness of the mouth and throat. Resulting in difficulty in taking, dysphagia and unquenchable to thirst. The face is flushed, insensitive to light. The body temperature in raised. The skin is dry and hot. There will be vomiting. These symptoms are followed by giddiness and unsteady gait. The patient become ...

 It is a transparent, colorless, volatile liquid having a spirit like odour and burning taste. The term alcohol in popular use refer to Ethyl alcohol. Which is present various fermented and distilled beverages. This group of poison are characterized by two set of symptoms ie Excitement and narcosis, The stage of excitement being well marked in some and that of narcosis in others. Sign and symptoms:-   Ethyl alcohol depresses the central nervous system. It first depresses the higher centers which control judgement and behaviour. (stage of excitement) Then the motar centers (stage of incordination) and finally the vital centers in the medulla (stage of narcosis). 1. Stage of excitement:-   This is a feeling of well being and pleasure resulting from inhibition of the higher centers. The drinker converse well, laugh and smiles readily and become angry easily. He may disclosed secrets. He may behave in obscene manner or talk in vulger languages. 2. Stage...