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Forensic Toxicology
The study and practice of the
application of toxicology to the
purposes of the law
Ancient Toxicologists
Herbalists of the
ancient past developed
a broad knowledge of
the benefits and
detriments of plants,
animal and insect bites
and metals
Ancient Toxicologists
Ancient poisons discovered early
Cyanide in peach pits known to Egyptians
Hemlock a popular means of execution in
Greece
Belladona of ancient Sumeria
Ancient Toxicologists
Dioscorides (c. 40-90 AD) described over 600
plants and plant extracts in his writings
Author of De Materia Medica On Medical
Matters
Foundation of Toxicology
PARACELSUS
(c. 1493-1541)
Definition - Poison
Since poisons were typically slipped into a beverage,
the term was initially applied to a drink prepared with
poison and then became more broad to include all
poisons, regardless of route of administration.
Any substance which, when ingested, inhaled
absorbed or when applied to injected into or developed
within the body in relatively small amounts, by its
chemical action causes damage to structure or
disturbance to function
Poison
Cowards weapon
administered by stealth
may be chronically administered
carefully planned means of murder
Toxicologic Forensic
Investigation
Forensic Toxicology evolved with the
advent of criminal investigation
Prior to the advent of modern prescribed
medicines, toxicology was primarily
concerned with poisonings
Many poisoners throughout history were
caught usually after failing at their
poisoning attempt
Arsenic
Italian woman of the 17th century, Toffana
Invented Aqua della Toffanina a
poisonous liquid containing arsenic
Sold to would be murderers along with
instructions as to its poisonous properties
Toffana reputed to have been responsible
for as many as 600 killings
Executed in Naples in 1709
Arsenic
Inheritance Powder
Odourless, tasteless and readily available
Symptoms of poisoning non-descript
Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains
Middle Ages Cholera
Present day Guillian Barr Syndrome
Marie Lafarge
Aspiring aristocrat married to failed businessman
Murder by chronic arsenic poisoning
- Arsenic-laced cake while husband away on business
- Continous pampering with arsenic-laced truffles
- Charles Lafarge diagnosed with cholera death
Mathieu Orfila
Using technique of Marsh, detected arsenic in a pill
box, a sample of eggnog and stomach and other
organs of C. Lafarge
L. Joslyn Rogers
1908 assistant to Ellis
Professor of Analytical
Chemistry at U of T (19141954)
Introduced alcohol to courts
in Ontario - 1932
+ expanded toxicology, fire
investigations, firearms
examinations
Worked at the CFS until his
death in 1967
William Derme
Pathologist
Studied legal medicine in France in 1909
In 1914, spearheaded the opening of the
first forensic laboratory in all of N.
America, the Laboratoire de Recherches
Mdico-Lgales
Would later become the Laboratoire de
sciences judiciares et de mdecin lgale in
Montreal, PQ
Forensic Pathology
In 1923 a small group of surgeons at the
Old Grace Hospital in Toronto perform
most of the medico-legal autopsies for the
province of Ontario
Physicians include Drs. C. Noble Sharpe
and E.R. Frankish
All work without remuneration
Dr. E. R. Frankish
Studied under Derome
Formed the Attorney Generals
Medico-Legal laboratory in
Ontario in 1932 (5 staff)
This lab would later become
the Centre of Forensic
Sciences
H. Ward Smith
1951 the Attorney
Generals lab in
Ontario is reorganized. Smith is
appointed director of
the laboratory
The modern era of
forensic science in
Ontario begins
CSFS
Canadian Society of Forensic Science (CSFS) is
formed on 16 October 1953 with members from the
RCMP, Health and Welfare Canada, the Montreal
Lab and H. Ward Smith
Became a corporate body in 1963 with the purpose
and objective of promoting the study of, raising the
standards of and enhancing the stature of forensic
science as a distinct discipline
CSFS
Modernization of Toxicology
Professional societies, certification boards,
advanced training of forensic scientists ensure that
the role of the forensic toxicologist is more than a
coroners chemist
Forensic toxicologists more frequently have
advanced degrees, involved in scientific research
and teaching
Modernization of Toxicology
High tech methods
have replaced low tech
methods of our past
Gas chromatography
Mass spectrometry
HPLC
ELISA
LC-MS
Modernization of Toxicology
Improvements in instrumentation
Allows for the detection of smaller and smaller
quantities of substances (ng)
Allows for smaller sample size (1970 15+ mL blood
required, 2003 25uL IA, 0.5mL MS, 2mL GC,LC)
New Challenges
Increased interest in all things forensic results in
increased public scrutiny
pressure to produce results quickly, with untested
methods and insufficient time