Introduction
Poison is any substance which is given more than their effective dose as a result capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism.1 Poison is classified as corrosive, irritant, systematic and miscellaneous. Under Indian penal code any poisonous substance is described under sec 284. Under the poisons one of this is ferrous sulphate.2 Basically it is the component of iron which is member of group 8 in second series of periodic table with atomic number 26. Its valency is totally 8 but in rare condition it shares all its valency. The component of iron is found by sharing +2, and +3 valency and form ferrous sulphate and ferric sulphate respectively. Ferrous sulphate is irritant in nature and come under inorganic poison within the class of transition metal oxoanionic compound causing local action on body. Ferrous sulphate which is pale green in color commonly called green vitrol or copperas or kasisa3, 4 & herakashi. Formulate as Feso4.7H2o thus also called Heptahydrate. If iron is added to sulphuric acid, it results as ferrous sulphate. With sharing +3 valency by the oxidiation of ferrous sulphate with nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide, it forms ferric sulphate which is yellow in color. Ferrous sulphate is frequently used as a drug for treatment of anemia as well as useful in enzymatic action, DNA replication and repair in body. Ferrous sulphate acute oral LD- 50 at132-881mg5 & chronic oral-56-65mg. As after taking of any drug more than the particular amount it works as the poison, over of ferrous sulphate is known as ferrous sulphate poisoning. The mode of administration of poison in the body is through skin/ eye in contact with dust and mints, ingestion by swallowed or inhalation cause local effect on respiratory system. When the corrosive gets into contact with body tissue like the mouth, eyes, skin, gastrointestinal tract, or respiratory system, they greatly damage those areas resulting in necrosis that is liquefactive and penetrates. The grades corrosive injuries depend on when they occur, kind, quantity, or concentration of the corrosive consumed.6 This leads to different impacts in the body with the passing of time which can be classified into 4 stages. In the early stage vomit and dark grey bloody stool, 2nd stage sets after 6-12 hours, 3rd stage with renal failure, shock, metabolic acidosis, hypoglycaemia occur and the last stage in which intestinal obstruction, pyloric stenosis, gastric scarring, necrotizing effect on stomach & intestine occurs. As in toxic condition it is harmful for the liver,7 bone marrow, spleen, muscle also. This paper consist of the real time case occured with the findings in the crime scene & report given by the forensic lab after examination of the findings.
Case Study
Crime scene marked as R where the body of a female in unconscious state was found in marked place B. The eyes of the corpse was closed without any force in the eyelids, the mouth was in half open condition, hands were straight and parallel to each other, fingers were closed, legs were straight and parallel in position without any angle making with respect to the surface. During investigation, the body of the Corpse had saree, blouse, and peticoat in the organizied manner, no sign of struggle was observed by looking at the clothes arrangement. In talking about the crime scene which is marked C, a white color rolling board was found with some greenish material over it. Evidence marked E was empty liquor bottle at the site of gas cylinder. Evidence marked F was 600ml empty bottle of pepsi brand. (The marking is given according to the RFSL sketching during the sketching of crime scene).
Findings
White color material in dry condition was seen around the open mouth.
Some vomit material in white color on the clothes of corpse was seen.
Cold drink bottle of pepsi with some miscellaneous material of 50ml was left.
As female is right-handed, the pepsi bottle was found on right hand side of the corpse.
White color rolling board containing greenish color traces over it was found.
Roller also had minute traces of green color around it.
Post-mortem appearances
When the corpse underwent the internal examination through post-mortem the mucosa membrane of stomach & intestine was red in color due to the corrosive nature of ferrous sulphate. Inflammation with haemorrhages through out the oesophagus was observed. When the stomach and intestine was opened it was found in necrosis condition. Hepatic necrosis & degeneration of tubules of kidney was also observed. The pigment of iron was present in the tissues after intake of the poison.
The following shows the action by the Figure 1.
Result
As per the RFSL report, result for the test of Ferrous and sulphate was found positive in the viscera of corpse which follows the standard parameters of the text given by the authority. The medical report said that the death occured due to asphyxia with some traces of ferrous sulphate found in tissues.
Conclusion
Iron is most important material in human body but in limited concentration, over which it can cause damage to body as in following mechanism.8 The absorption over tissue increases upto 30% in deficiency condition and 60% of volume distribution over erythrocytes and then in myoglobin. Homicidal cases are rare for one reason and that is due to the color of ferrous sulphate which is easily seen. Suicidal cases are rarely seen but this case study confirms the death of the person due to the intake of the ferrous sulphate. Accident cases of the children death is seen mostly due to easily availability in house and its tablet coated with the sugar which attract the child.9 It becomes fatal for the woman who are pregnant and taking more amount of iron tablets also.10
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