Suicidal administration of elemental arsenic

A case of suicidal arsenic poisoning with predominantly gastrointestinal symptomatology is reported. According to his own statement, a student of chemistry had taken in 30 g of metallic arsenic. During the following period he suffered from frequent vomiting and excessive diarrhoea. Approximately 15 hours after the oral application he sought for medical help and was brought into a hospital. Despite of gastric lavage with carbo animalis, hemodialysis, and BAL as antidote the patient died after a survival time of altogether 48 hours. By means of x-ray fluorescence analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry 350 mg of arsenic could be detected in the gastric fluid of the corpse; x-ray diffractometric analysis actually proved the presence of elemental arsenic. Nevertheless it can't be excluded that the metallic form was contaminated with arsenic oxides. The paper presents the clinical course, the analytical data, and the postmortem findings.     

Massive acute arsenic poisonings

Arsenic poisonings are still important in the field of toxicology, though they are not as frequent as about 20-30 years ago. In this paper, the arsenic concentrations in ante- and post-mortem materials, and also forensic and anatomo-pathological aspects in three cases of massive acute poisoning with arsenic(III) oxide (two of them with unexplained criminalistic background, in which arsenic was taken for amphetamine and one suicide), are presented. Ante-mortem blood and urine arsenic concentrations ranged from 2.3 to 6.7 microg/ml, respectively. Post-mortem tissue total arsenic concentrations were also detected in large concentrations. In case 3, the contents of the duodenum contained as much as 30.1% arsenic(III) oxide. The high concentrations of arsenic detected in blood and tissues in all presented cases are particularly noteworthy in that they are very rarely detected at these concentrations in fatal arsenic poisonings.     

A method for determining arsenic in biological material]

Method of extraction-atomic absorption detection of arsenic in biologic material using naphthenic acid was developed and tested. Method can be used for arsenic detection in postmortem material. It differs from the known method by its accuracy, reliability and simple use.     

Lethal intoxication with arsenic using prepared butter

The present case report deals with a lethal intoxication with arsenic mixed into butter. It describes the course of events over about two days on the basis of the statements by the persons involved, the clinical findings after the belated hospitalisation of the victim, the results of the first pathological autopsy, the forensic autopsy performed after exhumation and the results of the chemical-toxicological investigations. The results are discussed in relation to the later confession of the female perpetrator and her statements regarding a previous unsuccessful murder attempt by poisoning. It also presents the judgement pronounced by the court and the reasons given for it.     

The absorption of arsenic into single human head hairs.

Single head hairs from several subjects have been soaked in arsenic radiotracer solution and the arsenic absorbed on 2-mm hair segments has been determined by radioactivity assay. The absorption patterns were characterized for some subjects by regions of high uptake where (in other hairs from the same subject) regions of low uptake of copper and zinc were found, and vice versa. These data have been interpreted in terms of varying densities of binding sites in the hair structure, with specific chemical character. Arsenic absorption patterns for other subjects were highly structured, showing zones of very high and very low absorption. The dangers of interpreting similar patterns for the indigenous arsenic content of hair in terms of the dates on which elevated arsenic ingestion took place have been discussed.     

Activation analyses of authenticated hairs of Napoleon Bonaparte confirm arsenic poisoning

In 1960, activation analyses at the Harwell Nuclear Research Laboratory of the University of Glascow, London of authenticated hairs of Napoleon Bonaparte taken immediately after his death confirmed Napoleon's chronic arsenic poisoning on the island of St. Helena. Timeline correlation of his clinical symptomatology of the preceding 4 months, as reported in the written diaries of his exiled companions, further supports the effect of fluctuating, elevated toxic levels of arsenic on his health. Independent analyses of authenticated hairs of Napoleon by the Toxicology Crime Laboratory of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1995 reveals toxic levels of arsenic. The successful assassination of Napoleon included both a cosmetic and lethal phase. The cosmetic phase consisted of arsenic poisoning over time to weaken Napoleon, making the associated debility appear to be a natural illness and thus allay any suspicions prior to instituting the lethal phase. On May 3, 1821, at 5:30 P.M., the lethal phase was carried out. Napoleon was given Calomel (HgCl), a cathartic, and a popular orange-flavored drink called orgeat, which was flavored with the oil of bitter almonds. Together they formed mercury cyanide, which is lethal. Napoleon lost consciousness and died two days later.     

An unsuspected arsenic poisoning murder disclosed by forensic autopsy

An unsuspected case of homicidal arsenic poisoning, clinically thought to be a primary hematopoietic disorder, was uncovered by an expanded toxicologic screen which is performed in all medical examiner's cases in which the decedent displays gastrointestinal symptoms prior to death. Arsenic concentrations were: blood, 7.2 mg/liter; liver, 15 mg/kg; and kidney, 6 mg/kg.     

氢化物原子荧光法测定人发中砷含量的不确定度评定

目的评定氢化物原子荧光法测定人发中砷含量的不确定度。方法以人发标准样品为分析对象,依据化学分析中不确定度的评估指南等指导性文件,分析测定过程中砷含量测定值（C）、样品处理后的总体积（V）、样品称量值（m）以及重复测量（rep）等多个不确定度分量,计算检测结果的合成标准不确定度和扩展不确定度。结果本文方法测定人发中砷含量的不确定度评定结果为：人发样品中砷的含量为（0.57±0.06）mg/kg,置信概率（p）=95%,自由度（υeff）=4。结论本文方法测量不确定度的主要来源是重复性和校准曲线,测定结果在标准物质给出的含量范围之内。     

Acute arsenic intoxication: forensic and toxicologic aspects (an observation).

The authors report on an acute suicidal arsenic intoxication (di-arsenic-trioxide). Death can occur one week after ingestion, despite intensive care. The forensic, anatomopathological and toxicologic aspects are reported. Forty titrations are realized at the level of the biologic fluid in viscera, by absorption spectrophotometry. These data are compared with those in standing literature, especially with the rates determined in normal subjects, following simple environmental impregnation.     

Acute arsenic poisoning: clinical, toxicological, histopathological, and forensic features

This report describes a suicide case by acute arsenic intoxication via intravenous injection. A 30-year-old woman injected arsenic As (V) (sodium arseniate disodique: Disodium Hydrogena Arsenik RP) in a successful suicide attempt. Three hours following administration, the woman developed severe digestive symptoms. She was admitted to a hospital and transferred to the intensive care unit within 12 h of the massive administration of arsenic. Despite therapeutic efforts, over the next 2 h she developed multiorgan failure and died. A postmortem examination was performed. Pulmonary edema and congestion of liver were apparent. As (V) and As (III) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after mineralization of samples by concentrated nitric acid. Toxicological analysis revealed high concentrations of arsenic in biological fluids as well as in organs. Histopathological examination showed a typical indication of myocarditis. These findings were in agreement with acute arsenic poisoning. The symptoms developed by this young woman (intoxication by intravenous administration) were comparable to oral intoxication. The clinical signs, survival time, and administration type are discussed in light of the literature on acute and chronic arsenic poisoning.     

Determination of arsenic in blood and stomach contents by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) was used and evaluated for the practical analysis of the arsenic content of body fluid samples without ashing. The calibration curve for arsenic in blood solution was shown to have good sensitivity, linearity and reproducibility. Blood obtained from normal volunteers was determined by ICP/MS, and compared with that determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The arsenic contents determined by ICP/MS showed a linear correlation with that determined by AAS. Furthermore, arsenic was determined in the blood and supernatant of stomach contents obtained from a suicide autopsy case resulting from ingestion of an arsenic compound. It was therefore concluded that ICP/MS could be used rapidly and conveniently in the field of forensic toxicology in acute metal poisoning cases.     

The detection and estimation of (A) arsenic in opium, and (B) strychnine in opium and heroin, as a means of identification of their respective sources

Samples of opium with arsenic as an adulterant, and both opium and heroin with strychnine as an adulterant are not infrequently encountered in the local drug scene. The paper describes a method for the possible identification of the sources of opium and heroin in the local market on the basis of an accurate quantitation of the adulterant arsenic and strychnine contents of the respective samples. A possible extension of this concept, would be the possibility of a similar identification of sources outside the country with a view to establishing channels of entry from abroad. Arsenic is determined by the Gutzeit method while strychnine is estimated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

2008年中国法治亮点巡礼

2008年，是中国法治进程稳步推进和稳健发展的一年，也是法治亮点频频闪现的一年。2008年的立法景观依然多姿多彩，科学立法、民主立法继续推进，公民对立法工作的有序参与进一步扩大，已出台的十一届全国人大常委会立法规划值得人们期待。此外，实施不久的《政府信息公开条例》、全面开展的监狱体制改革，以及此起彼伏的问责风暴等都是值得我们关注的法治亮点。     

中国法治备忘录——2007年中国法治亮点巡礼

2007年,是中国法治建设又好又快发展的一年，也是法治中国与和谐社会交相辉映的一年。特别值得指出的是，党的十七大报告对中国特色社会主义法治建设作了全面的部署，明确提出了“全面落实依法治国基本方略，加快建设社会主义法治国家”的要求。     

溺死法医学鉴定的研究新进展

综述了近年来在硅藻检验、水中浮游生物叶绿素（A）检测、血液化学和组织化学检验等方面的最新文献报道,并对各种溺死检验方法的优缺点进行了评价：在硅藻检验中,硝酸乙醇法、破机罐法及微波消解法,可缩短检验时间,提高办案效率;酶消化法及PCR法硅藻检出率高,适用于可疑水样中硅藻密度低等情况。早期器官组织中浮游生物叶绿素（A）、血液和组织中其他生化指标,可作为鉴定溺死的重要参考。微量元素锶检测可用于鉴定海水中溺死。另外,硅藻及其他浮游生物遗传多态性片断PCR,可望成为新的、灵敏的溺死检测方法。