Arsenic & Copper Modi

ARSENIC
 Metallic Irritant Poison

 black colored metal
 Metallic form- non poisonous
 Ideal homicidal agent
 the signs and symptoms mimic natural
diseases processes and fails to arouse
suspicion of foul play.
 It also has the advantage of being
odorless and tasteless and therefore
easy to administer.
 Detection is not possible
 Today its misuse has come down
 Restriction in its sale
 Detect even long time after death

IMPORTANT PREPRATIONS
 COMPOUND  USES
1. Arsenic Trioxide 1. Medicine for fever
Sankhya Eg. Fowler’s solution –
Somalkhar 1% white arsenite
2. Copper Arsenite : 2.Colouring agent for the

Scheele’s green & wall paper, toys
Copperacetoarsenite
Paris or Emerled green-
Hirwa
3. Sulfides of arsenic
( Arsenic disulfide) 3.Depilators
4. Arsenical 4. Weed killer
compounds of lead Insecticide
sodium and
Fungicide
potassium
5. Organic Arsenical
5.Treatment of
tryponosomiasis
6. Asinine gas
6.Industry & Lab.
MECHANISIM OF ACTION
 Toxicity attributed to the ability of
arsenic to combine with sulphydryl
groups in the mitochondrial enzyme
system leading to interference with
their action.
 Arsenate causes uncoupling of
mitochondrial oxidative
phosphorylation.
Mechanism of action
 Acute arsenic poisoning from ingestion
of results in increased permeability of
small blood vessels and inflammation
and necrosis of the intestinal mucous ;
theses changes manifest as
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis,
Fluid loss &
Hypo tension
Symptoms
 Fluminant type
 Massive dose of Ar.
 Death- shock and CV collapse
ACUTE POISONING
 Metallic taste in the mouth
 Odour of garlic in the breath
( Garlic odour is the typical for

Phosphorus
Selenium
Thallium &
Organophosphate Intoxication)
ACUTE POISONING
 Severe nausea & vomiting
 Colicky abdominal pain
 Profuse diarrhea with rice water stool
Stool frequently contain
Blood
Mucous membrane &
Fragments of the poison.
ACUTE POISONING
 Intense thirst
 Painful cramps in the leg – due to
dehydration
 GIT PHASE:
Multi system organ damage.
FATAL DOSE
 Arsenic trioxide range in the 200-
300mg.
 2- 4 HOURS
SUB-Acute form of poisoning
 Usually results when administration in
the small doses at regular intervals to
cause death by gradual prostration.
CHRONIC POISONING
 The onset of symptoms usually comes
at 2 to 8 weeks.
CHRONIC POISONING
 Chronic poisoning may occur among the
person engaged in the
Smeltering and refining of ores,
Subliming of white arsenic
Manufacture of sheep-dips,
Weed-killer, & paints,dyes, cosmetics,
drugs etc,
GIT SYMPTOMS
 Loss of weight
 Loss of appetite
 Salivation
 Colicky pain
 Constipation Some times diarrhea
 garlicky odor of vomitus.
 CNS symptoms
 peripheral neuropathy- tingling
sensation, ataxia, mood changes etc
 Renal and hepatic damage
 Black foot disease
 Bone marrow suppression- anemia,
lecopenia
SKIN SYMPTOMS
 “ RAIN DROPS” pattern of skin
pigmentation
 Hyperkeratosis and desquamation
 ALDRICH MEES’ LINES – thick band of
opacity seen in the finger nails
 Alopecia
Black foot disease
DIAGNOSIS
 X- ray; acute arsenic poisoning, x-ray
abdomen reveal ingested arsenic- which
is radio opaque.
 Normal levels of total urine arsenic
excretion are less than 50ug/d. excretion
100ug/d or more indicative of poisoning.
 May detected in hairs & nails.
 Reinsch’s test
MANAGEMENT
 Vomiting induced by ipecac
 Gastric lavage - Freshly precipitated
hydrated ferric oxide – forming ferric
arsenate , a harmless salt.
 I.V. fluids & electrolyte replacement.
 DIMERCAPROL is the chelating agent &
administered IM
 DMSA – SUCCIMER , DMPS - UNITHIOL
POSTMORTEM APPEARANCES
 Depends upon the quantity taken and the
period of survival.
 Rigor mortis lasts longer than usual.
 RED VALVET in appearance- Stomach
 Ulceration & erosion, submucosal petechial
hemorrhages
 Petechial hemorrhages- endocardium
 Liver spleen& Kidney - fatty degeneration
Red velvet appearance of
stomach
MEDICOLEGAL IMPORTANCE
 Accidental poisoning
 therapeutic overdose- fever,
amoebiasis etc
 quacks
 Ayurvedic medicine and Homeo
 children
 Rarely used as a suicidal agent
 Homicidal purpose
 “Napoleon Bonaparte”
Difference between Arsenic
poisoning &cholera
Trait Arsenic poisoning cholera
Pain in throat Before vomiting After vomiting
Purging After vomiting Before vomiting
Stools Rice-watery in the Rice-watery &
early stages, & later passed into
bloody continuous
involuntary jet.
Tenesmus & anal Present Absent
irritation
Vomitted matter Contains mucus, bile, Watery without
& blood mucus, bile & blood
Trait Arsenic cholera
poisoning
Voice Not effected Rough whistling
conjunctivae Inflammed Not inflammed
Analysis of Arsenic Present Cholera Vobrio

excreta present
Circumstantial Of arsenic Other cases of

evidence poisoning may be cholera in locallity.
present
Copper
It is an essential element in man

Derivatives
CuSo4
Vedigris
Uses
Cooking vessels
electronic items
Emetics
Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Vomitus appear- greenish blue
Treatment
Pencilamine, or EDTA
Cuso4 used as an antidote for Ph poisoning

MLI
Accidental poisoning- domestic and
industrial exposure
Ideal Homicidal poison
cheep
easily available
symptoms mimic natural disease process
difficult to detect
lethality should be high
dosage- less
Ideal suicidal poison
cheep
easily available
painless and immediate death
lethality should be high
dosage- less

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ARSENIC

 Metallic Irritant Poison

2. Copper Arsenite : 2.Colouring agent for the

( Garlic odour is the typical for

conjunctivae Inflammed Not inflammed

Analysis of Arsenic Present Cholera Vobrio

Circumstantial Of arsenic Other cases of

It is an essential element in man

Cuso4 used as an antidote for Ph poisoning

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