Aids To Forensic Medicine And Toxicology Part 18

Acetate of morphine pa.s.ses through, and meconate of lead remains. The solution of acetate of morphine may be freed from excess of lead by hydrogen sulphide and filtered, excess of hydrogen sulphide driven off by heat, and tests applied. Put the meconate of lead with water into a beaker and pa.s.s hydrogen sulphide; sulphide of lead is formed, and meconic acid set free. Filter. Concentrate the solution of meconic acid, allow a portion to crystallize, and apply tests.

_Tests._--Morphine and its acetate give an orange-red colour with nitric acid, becoming brighter on standing; decompose iodic acid, setting free iodine; with perchloride of iron, gives a rich indigo-blue; with b.i.+.c.hromate of pota.s.sium, a green turning to brown. When the alkaloid is heated in a watchgla.s.s with a drop of strong sulphuric acid until the acid begins to fume, and is then allowed to get quite cold, a drop of nitric acid produces a brilliant red colour. The iodic acid test is very delicate, but requires great care, and may be used in the presence of organic matter.

Meconic acid gives a blood-red colour with perchloride of iron, not discharged by corrosive sublimate or chloride of gold. The similar colour produced by sulpho-cyanide of pota.s.sium and perchloride of iron is discharged by chloride of gold and corrosive sublimate.

=Morphine Habit.=--Individuals who have acquired this habit take the drug usually by hypodermic injection. The victim suffers from nausea and vomiting, and becomes so mentally debilitated that asylum treatment is required.

x.x.x.--BELLADONNA, HYOSCYAMUS, AND STRAMONIUM

=Belladonna.=--The root, leaves, and berries, of the _Atropa belladonna_ are poisonous from the presence of alkaloid atropine.

_Symptoms._--Dryness of mouth and throat, intense thirst, dysphagia and dysphonia, quick pulse, noisy delirium and stupor. Strangury and haematuria, and redness of the skin, especially of the face, like that of scarlatina, have been noticed. Dilatation of the pupil occurs, whether the poison be taken internally or applied locally to the eye.

_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Congestion of cerebral vessels, dilated pupils, red patches in alimentary ca.n.a.l.

_Treatment._--Wash out the stomach freely; a hypodermic injection of apomorphine as an emetic, followed by hypodermic injections of pilocarpine or morphine. Tea, coffee, or tannin, to precipitate the alkaloid.

_Tests._--Atropine may be recognized by its action on the pupil. The chloro-iodide of pota.s.sium and mercury precipitates it from very dilute solutions.

=Hyoscyamus= (Henbane).--_Hyoscyamus niger._

=Stramonium= (Thorn-Apple).--_Datura stramonium._

_Symptoms._--Identical with those of belladonna and hyoscyamus, the _post-mortem appearances_ and _treatment_ being also the same.

=Cannabis Indica= (Indian Hemp).--When smoked, produces intoxication and mania. _Has.h.i.+sh_, used in the East as a narcotic, may cause persons to run 'amok' and commit murder.

x.x.xI.--COCAINE

=Cocaine.=--Any dose above 1/2 grain applied to a mucous membrane or injected hypodermically may give rise to alarming symptoms. These are intense pallor, faintness, giddiness, dilatation of pupils, paroxysmal dyspnoea, rapid, intermittent, and weak pulse, nausea and vomiting, intense prostration verging on collapse, and convulsions. The patient may recover if allowed to remain in a rec.u.mbent position, but stimulants by mouth--_e.g._, ammonia--and the hypodermic injection of brandy or ether may be necessary, with the inhalation of nitrite of amyl.

For care in the prescribing of cocaine see under the 'Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920' (p. 82).

The =Cocaine Habit= consists in the self-administration of the drug hypodermically. It induces excitement, which is followed by prostration.

In time melancholia or mania develops, with great irritation of the skin ('cocaine bugs').

x.x.xII.--CAMPHOR

The liniment, oil, and spirit have been poisonous in large dose.

_Symptoms._--Odour of breath, languor, giddiness, faintness, dimness of vision, difficulty of breathing, delirium, convulsions, with hot skin, flushed face, and dilated pupils.

_Fatal Dose._--Thirty grains.

=Cocculus Indicus.=--The fruit of _Anamirta cocculus_. Contains a poisonous active principle, picrotoxin; used to adulterate beer, and by poachers to stupefy fish.

_Symptoms._--Convulsions, followed by stupor and complete loss of voluntary power.

x.x.xIII.--TETRACHLORETHANE, ETC.

=Tetrachlorethane= ('Cellon').--Acetylene tetrachloride; vapour has caused poisoning in aeroplane ('dope') and cinema film works.

_Symptoms._--Gastric symptoms and marked jaundice. This may be followed in days or weeks by stupor, coma, death.

_Post-Mortem._--Fatty degeneration of internal organs, chiefly liver.

=Trinitrotoluene (T.N.T.).=--An explosive solid which stains the skin an orange colour; may be absorbed through skin or be inhaled.

_Symptoms._--Shortness of breath, headache, drowsiness. Later, skin irritation, gastritis, jaundice, blood degeneration.

_Treatment._--Remove from work, rest in bed, diuretics, purgatives, alkalies.

x.x.xIV.--ALCOHOL, ETHER, AND CHLOROFORM

Alcohol, ether, and chloroform, induce general anaesthesia, often preceded by delirious excitement, and followed by nausea and vomiting.

When they cause death, it is by inducing a state like apoplexy or by paralyzing the heart.

=Alcohol.=--Absolute alcohol is ethyl hydroxide (C_{2}H_{5}OH) with not more than 1 per cent. by weight of water. Rectified spirit (spiritus rectificatus) contains 90 per cent. of alcohol. Methylated spirit consists of rectified spirit with 10 per cent. of wood spirit. Proof spirit contains a little over 49 per cent. of absolute alcohol; brandy or whisky, 53 per cent.; port wine, 20 to 25 per cent.; ales and stout, 4 to 6 per cent.

_Symptoms._--Acute poisoning; confusion, giddiness, staggering gait, headache, pa.s.sing into stupor, with subnormal temperature, and coma.

Vomiting may occur and recovery ensue, otherwise collapse sets in.

Pupils usually dilated.

Dipsomaniacs suffer from indigestion, vomiting and purging, jaundice, alb.u.minuria, diabetes, cirrhosis of liver, degeneration of kidneys, congestion of brain, peripheral neuritis, alcoholic insanity, and various forms of paralysis. In the acute form delirium tremens is the most common manifestation.

_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Deep red colour of lining membranes of stomach. Sometimes congestion of cerebral vessels and meninges. Lungs congested, blood fluid. Rigor mortis persistent.

_Fatal Dose._--Death from 1/2 pint of gin and from two bottles of port, but recovery from larger quant.i.ties.