Question

Background An adult male died suddenly. Postmortem investigation did not identify any gross or historical lesions. Forensic investigation identified strychnine in several tissues. The presence of strychnine at any concentration is significant since it is not a normal body constituent. Case Facts Male -7okg Lethal dose img/kg, BW Individual found dead, rigor mortis had just developed Tissue concentrations o Blood 2.3mg/L o Liver 14mg/kg o Urine 12.7mg/L Sausage in the stomach contents contained high concentrations of strychnine The person was found dead (recent death) at noon Questions a. Calculate the total dose of strychnine consumed (mg). C4) 2. Assume the sausage contained the strychnine and the person ingested o.3kg of ( sausage. What was the amount of strychnine in the sausage (mg)?

Answer 1

Strychnine comes from the seeds of the strychnine tree, and strychnine poisoning can occur through consumption, inhalation, or absorption by mucous membranes. Although strychnine is colorless, it has a very strong bitter taste. Today, strychnine is used in some rodent poisonsStrychnine is an alkaloid from seeds. It is used to control gophers and squirrels. Acute signs of strychnine toxicity were seen in 10-120 minutes.

It is a common pesticide, strychnine isn't as toxic as other poisons, but it gets style points for causing one of the most horrific deaths of all: Every muscle in your body spasms violently until you die from exhaustion.

Strychnine poisoning, at the right dosage, can kill a man in 10 to 20 minutes. It attacks the central nervous system and creates random reflex reactions. Soon the Strychnine kills you in contortions of agony.

1. In the present scenario, the case is a Male 70kg

The tissue concentrations of strychnine comprise of :

*Blood :2.3 mg/L

*Liver: 14mg/kg

*Urine : 12.7 mg/L

Assume that 1 liter = 1kg

We can calculate the total dose as the sum of the concentrations of strychnine in the blood+liver+urine

ie,=suppose 70kg of a healthy man having its total blood volume as 5.5 to 5.6 liters, that means 7.5 to 8% of body weight

Normal urine output is nearly 1500 ml

and the weight of the liver is approximately 1.5 kg

Thus we can say the total tissue concentrations of strychnine=(Blood+Liver+urine)

=2.3(5.5)+(14+7)+(12.7+6.35)

=12.6+21+19.05

=52.65

Thus we can say that the total dose of strychnine is 52.65 mg

2. Assume that the sausage contained the strychnine and the person ingested 0.3kg of sausage. Thus we can say that the amount of strychnine in the sausage is 30,0000mg