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Forensic Revision Points
Forensic Revision Points
Forensic Revision Points
Forensic medicine: is the application of medical and paramedical knowledge in the administration
of law and justice. Legal medicine and state medicine are other names for it.
Medical jurisprudence: deals with the legal rights, privileges, duties and obligations of medical
practitioner.
Points to remember
1. Pin point pupils = Opium
2. Dilatation of pupils = Dhatura, Cyanide
3. Constriction of pupils = Opium, phenol, organo-phosphorus, physostigmine, chloral hydrate.
4. Cumulative poisons are: Barbiturates, and methyl alcohol
5. Habit forming poisons are: Caffeine and Nicotine.
6. Addiction drugs are: Alcohol, Barbiturates, Coccaine, Cannabis, Chloral hydrate, Opium,
Pethidine.
7. Hemodialysis is good value in: Salicylate, methanol, barbiturate, and aspirin (except kerosene oil
and diazephem)
8. 1st sign of intra-uterine death: Gas shadow in aorta (as early as 12 hours).
9. Increased anion gap is seen in Salicylate poisoning, lactic acidosis, starvation.
10. Ideal suicide poison = Cyanide
11. Ideal homicide poison = Thallium, fluoride compounds.
12. Commonly used homicidal poisons: Arsenic, aconite
13. Commonly used suicidal poisons: Endrine, Opium, Barbiturates, Organo-phosphorus
compounds.
14. Poison resembling cholera = Arsenic
15. Poison resembling tetanus = Strychnine
16. Poison resembling natural death = Thallium
17. Poison resembling fading measles = Arsenic
18. Poison resembling thyrotoxicosis = Bi-nitro compounds.
Tests for detecting poisons:
Arsenic = Marshs test, Reinschs test
Opium = Marquis test
Alcohol = Mcevans test
Datura = Mydriatic test
Phenol = Green urine.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. The Percentage of blood alcohol in the stage of dead drunk is 0.5%.
2. Pisiform gets ossified by 12 yrs of age.
3. By 14 yrs. patella gets ossified.
4. Anterior fontanelle closes by 18 months of age.
5. The height of a child is double of birth height by 4 years of age,
6. Under IPC, a person below 7 years is not criminally responsible.
7. Fatal period of Datura poisoning is 24 hours.
8. In India, rigor mortis sets within 1-2 hours.
9. While dispatching blood and urine for chemical analysis, sodium fluoride is added as
preservative in concentration of 50 mg/10ml.
10. Critical level of alcohol in blood is 0.15%.
11. The minimum age for giving consent for surgery is 18 years.
12. In fractured ends of bone, soft provisional callus is formed by 15 hours.
13. The minimum time required for adipocere formation in a dead body is 21 days.
14. Indian Medical Council Act was enacted in 1956.
15. Mental retardation is I.Q. Below 70.
59. The age of 15 years old female is best determined by the radiography of upper end of radius and
ulna.
60. Maggots in a dead body do not appear before 48 hours.
61. Hairs become loose after 72 hours of death.
62. Epiphyseal union of sternal end of clavicle occurs at age of 22 years.
63. Washer womans hands and feet usually occur within 12-18 hours.
64. Saponification in drowning occurs in about 5 weeks.
65. Death ensues in about 5 mts. of complete submersion.
66. By ABO.RH, MN systems the exclusion of Paternity is about 50%.
67. Estimation of Age from eruption of teeth is possible upto 17 to 21 years of age. Gustafsons
method for estimation age of adult over 21 years.
68. In poisoning by salicylates, the Gastric lavage is useful upto 24 hours.
69. The age of consent for medical examination in cases of rape is minimum 12 years.
70. If a person is absent from his usual haunts, and has not been heard for 7 hears, he is presumed to
be dead.
71. Infanticide means unlawful destruction of child below 1 year of age.
72. By ABO, Rh, MN systems the exclusion of Paternity is about 50%
73. Estimation of Age from eruption of teeth is possible upto 17 to 21 years of age
74. In poisoning by salicylates, the Gastric lavage is useful upto 24 hours
75. The age of consent for medical examination in cases of rape is minimum 12 years
76. In sin of Gomorrah, buccal swabs are useful upto 9 hours
77. In most countries, breath alcohol concentration 35 mg/100 ml is considered an offence After
absorption, the ratio of alcohol in blood and urine is constant and is 1:1.31 Histologically, reticulum
fibres in an abrasion are seen on 8 days
78. Widmarks formula for urine analysis of alcohol is 3/4 prq
79. Pancreas constitute 0.1% of body weight
80. Punishment for false evidence is given under section 193 of IPC
81. Length of a female larynx is about 3.8 cm
82. Calcification of third molar begins at 8-10 years.
83. Lip prints on cheiloscopy are divided into 8 patterns
84. 1gm tablet of aluminium phosphide is able to liberate 1.0 gm
85. The diameter of human hair at 15 years of age is 0.053 ram *
86. Alcohol gaze nystagmus is produced at an average blood levels of 80 mg%
87. The residual alcohol in mouth takes about 20 min to disappear and within this period breath
analyser test may be false positive
88. Skeletal muscles constitute about 29% of body weight
89. Term under the influence of alcohol is used when blood concentration is 80-100mg%
90. Statutory rape is rape under 15 years of age
91. Weight for occluding internal jugular vein hanging is 2 kg
92. Majority of deaths due to Aluminium phosphide occurs in within 24 hours
93. During sleep, rectal temperature is 0.5-1.0C lower
94. Drowned body floats in about 12-18 hours in summer S
95. Bones constitute about 12% of body weight
96. Absence of III molar tooth indicates that the person is definitely under the age of 17 years
97. In a dead body, maggots in rainy day are seen in 6 hours.
98. Arsenic, Aconite and Dhatura are generally used as homicidal poisons.
99. Ricin is the active principle of croton oil seed.
100. Abrin is the active principle of abrus precatorius.
101. Soneryl is a coloured babriturate.
102. Breath alcohol can be measured by Alcometer or Drunkometer.
103. The fatal dose of Dhatura is about one grain.
104. Physostigmine can be regarded as the specific antidote of Dhatura.
289. The process which causes the drying up of tissues and internal viscera to a sufficient degree to
halt putrefaction is called mummification.
290. The most important cause of temporary impotence is fear.
291. Minimum quantity of blood required to be preserved to mineral poisoning.
292. Superimposition is technique most useful for identification from skull.
293. Brown atrophy of heart is seen in starvation deaths.
294. Most common type of finger impression is loop.
295. Lead poisoning is common in children.
296. Presence of alveolar duct membrane in foetal autopsies in indicative of live birth.
297. The science of finger print was first demonstrated by Francis.
298. Karl Pearson formula is used to calculate stature of the individual from long bones.
299. Filigree burns are due to lightening.
300. The commonest homicidal poison used in India is Arsenic.
301. BAL is contraindicated in liver damage.
302. KCN is ineffective as a poison if kept for long time, patient takes excess of carbohydrate or
suffers from achlorhydria.
303. Inquiry into circumstances of death is called inquest report.
304. Non-poisonous pure metals are mercury, copper and lead.
305. Phossy Jaw is produced by chronic white phosphorus poisoning.
306. Ptysalism is seen in copper poisoning.
307. Chloral hydrate is also called knockout drops or Micky Finn.
308. Chromodacryorrhoea is sometimes preapilated by organophosphorus
309. Rape is a cognizable offence.
310. To make a positive identification with the help of a partial finger print, the points of similarity
should be at least 16.
311. The most striking symptoms of pregnancy is cessation of menstruation.
312. The most reliable chemical test for blood is benzidine test.
313. The position colour of tests for blood are Benzidine test (Blue), Guiacum test (deep blue),
Kastle Meyer test, Leucomalachite test (Peacock blue), Haemin Crystal (dark brown).
314. Takayama reagent is used in haemochromogen test.
315. Heat stiffening is due to coagulation of albumin.
316. Term immerssion foot is used for cases with frost bite.
317. Boxers attitude is seen in persons dying of burns.
318. III and IV degree of burns are most painful.
319. Smokeless gun powder is composed of nitrocellulose.
320. Gunshot wound is a type of perforated wound.
321. Supreme Court is purely an appellate Court.
322. Police inquest can be done by a person not below the rank of sub-inspector.
323. Haemodilution occurs in fresh water drowning.
324. In chronic mercury poisoning, face is first affected.
325. Wrist drop and foot drop may be seen in poisoning with lead.
326. After taking cyanide, patient first feels numbness in extremities.
327. Nux vomica seeds contain 2 alkaloids, strychnine and brucine.
328. Lynching is a form of homicidal hanging.
329. Arrow poison is nux vomical (also called Kuchila).
330. Commonest industrial metal poisoning is by lead.
331. Haemorrhagic spots are found in poisoning by thallium.
332. Amyl nitrate is antidote of cocaine poisoning.
333. In sea water drowning, there is steep rise in Na+ and Mg++.
334. Cadaveric spasm occurs immediately after death.
335. Least common type of finger prints is composite.
336. Preauricular sulcus is useful for identification of sex.
514. In phosphorous poisoning, avoid oil and fats as they increase absorption
515. In Endrin poisoning, the pupils are dilated
516. Albumin helps to precipitate poison in Mercury poisoning
517. Lead poisoning causes constipation
518. In Potassium permanganate poisoning, lesions resemble Tertiary syphilis
519. Cocaine acts as an Aphrodisiac
520. In treatment of Nux vomica poisoning, most important is I.V. injection Barbiturates
521. Pupils show alternate contraction and dilatation in Aconite poisoning
522. Charcoal acts as a mechanical antidote.
523. Delayed poisoning by oxalic acid is characterised by Uraemia Large amount of water is
contraindicated in Oxalic acid poisoning Hypocalcemia can occur in Oxalic acid poisoning
524. Coffee ground vomitus is seen in Oxalic acid poisoning
525. Datura seeds look like- Brinjal seeds, capsicum seeds or Tomato seed
526. Antidote for chlorpyriphos poisoning is. PAM.
527. Prussian blue is used in poisoning by thallium.
528. In gastric lavage, tube is passed upto 50 cm mark
529. Oleander causes heart block
530. Puppes rule is used for bullet injuries
531. Wredins test detects changes in middle ear
532. Rain drop pigmentation of skin is seen is arsenic poisoning
533. Algor mortis refers to cooling of body
534. American Law Institute Test is related to criminal responsibility
535. Poroscopy was described by Locard
536. Burrowed servant doctrine is related to vicarious liability
537. Wax-drippings or bone pearls are due to thermal injuries
538. Lichtenbergs flowers refers to Filigree burns
539. Cutis anserina is due to exector pilae
540. Cupping is a method of criminal abortion
541. Crocodile flash burns are due to antemortem electric burns
542. Hospital providing defective equipment or drugs is causing Corporate, negligence Contusion
collar is a proof of Gun shot entrance
543. In Commando punch, injury usually occur in neck
544. Blast lung is seen due to air explosion Thereapeutic orphans result due to experimentation
545. Thee name hatters shake is given because it is common in hat making industry
546. Trotter and Glessers formulae are used for estimating stature
547. Rachiotomy saw is used to remove spinal cord
548. In cases of increased intracranial pressure, Kernhans notch is seen on midbrain
549. In artificial insemination of Donor without husbands consent, if the legal presumption of
legitimacy be rebutted, parental rights will be vested in mother only
550. Agonal period is period between lethal occurrence and death
551. K master is responsible for the faults of his servants is known as Vicarious liability, Biliard ball
ricochet effect is seen in firearm injuries
552. Cavett test is used for determing blood alcohol
553. Dactylography was first used in India by Sir W. Herschel
554. Huffling is common solvent abuse
555. Sewer gas contains CO2, methane and H25
556. Stomach-bowel test is used for knowing if infant respiration occurred
557. Swallow tails are seen in lacerated wound
558. Most common type of abrasions of grazes
559. Osteometric board is used to estimate stature
560. Skull is square in Mongolians
561. In human head hair, bar bodies are found in hair follicles in a proportion of 29 5% in females
molecular death early sign include cooling of body , skin changes , pm lividity rigor mortis and late
sign putrefaction adepocere and mummification.
all poisoning including carbolic acid but excluding other acid - saturated NaCl
poisoning wid acid except carbolic acid - rectified spirit
blood for grouping - sodium citrate in water containing formalin
blood for alchohol poisoning - potasium oxalate and sodium luoride
blood for fluoride poisoining - potasium oxalate and sodium nitrate
blood for oxalic acid and ethylene glycol poisoning - sodium citrate in place of pot. oxalate
blood for CO poisoning - liquid paraffin
histopatho specimen- 10% formalin
sample for uric acid - alcohol
urine sample- thymol
virology specimen- 50% glycerine
sec 174cr pc - police inquest
sec 176 cr pc- magistrate inquest
sec61 - 69 deal with sub poena
IPC 375 - definition of rape IPC 376 punishment of rape
IPC 320 - definition of grievous hurt
IPC 84- deals with criminal responsibility of insane. IPC 304 A deals with criminal negligence
IPC 304 B dowry death
IPC 300 defines murder
IPC 299 defines culpable homicide
IPC 302 punishment of murder. IPC 304 punishment of culpable homicide
Causes of constricted pupil :
Organophosphorpous
Opium
Formaldehyde
Alcoholic coma
Carbamate
Phenol
Causes of dilated pupil:
Acute alcohol ingestion
Dhatura
Atropine
Barbiturate poisoning(late stage)
Organochlorine (endrin)
ANTEMORTAL WOUNDS:
arterial hmge,
clotted blood firmly adherent to endothelium,
deeply stained,
edges-- gapping,everted,swolllen,
vital reaction signs present,
wound serotonin& histamine content ^,
POST MORTEM WOUNDS:
venous hmge,