Homicidal Deaths Research Articles

Postmortem reference concentrations of elements in blood and urine

To establish postmortem reference concentrations of elements. Fatal intoxications, both accidental and intentional, are a global issue. In the western world intoxications with pharmaceuticals dominate, but in other parts of the world other substances are more common. Intoxication with elemental compounds is generally considered to be uncommon. In a forensic setting, elemental intoxications are of great importance when investigating both accidental, suicidal, and homicidal deaths. Arsenic, for example, is a classical poison which also has relevance in the modern era. Unlike for pharmaceuticals, postmortem reference concentrations for elements are scarce. For many elements it is therefore unknown if, and to what extent, they are affected by postmortem redistribution. The current study presents normal postmortem reference concentrations of 68 elements in femoral blood and urine. In addition, possible sources of error such as contamination from collection tubes, preservative potassium fluoride solution and storage time are evaluated. Paired blood and urine samples from 120 cases of death by suicidal hanging in Sweden were collected. 20 cases from each of the six local units of forensic medicine were used to account for possible regional differences. Additionally, the included cases reflected both short and long storage times. To account for possible elemental contamination from collection tubes and the added potassium fluoride solution, multiple batches of tubes and multiple samples of potassium fluoride solution were also analysed. Concentrations of elements were determined by double focusing sector field ICP-MS. Key descriptive statistics for all 68 elements are provided (including mean, median and percentiles) in blood and urine. Forensic highlights include blood concentrations of total arsenic (mean: 4.25 μg/g), thallium (mean: 0.14 μg/g) and antimony (mean: 14.82 μg/g). For several elements in blood and urine ( n = 24 and n = 25, respectively) a majority of elemental concentrations were below the limit of detection. The contribution of contamination from collection tubes were minor compared to the overall mean elemental concentrations in both blood and urine. Though the added solution of potassium fluoride contained a large assortment of elements, given the small amounts of this solution added to samples, the overall contribution is minor for most elements relative to the overall mean. However, there was a significant difference between samples with short and long storage time for 22 elements in blood and 17 elements in urine. These differences reflected both increases and decreases in concentration. Relative to antemortem elemental concentrations the postmortem concentrations show both increases and decreases. Of special note are markedly higher concentrations for several elements in blood (such as cadmium, chromium, manganese and antimony) compared to several antemortem populations. In general, it can be assumed the phenomenon of postmortem redistribution is as large for elements as it is for drugs and other substances. When evaluating individual concentrations, it is important to be aware of potential sources of contamination and the potential influence of storage time. Concentrations indicating overexposure must be evaluated together with autopsy findings and case circumstances to form a holistic view of the case as a whole. The present study provides an important tool when evaluating postmortem elemental concentrations. It fills a needed gap between large antemortem population studies and postmortem case reports or small case series of elemental intoxications. Together with the forensic autopsy and circumstantial information the present references will aid in diagnosing cases of potential elemental overexposure.

Detection of phosphine in abdominal cavity material of woman dead body and ingesta of cow using Gas Chromatography-Nitrogen Phosphorous Detector technique (GC-NPD)

Detection of phosphine (poison) in unusual specimens (i.e abdominal cavity material of putrefied woman body) as well as in Ingesta of a cow using GC-NPD. Introduction: aluminium and Zinc Phosphides are commonly used as insecticides and rodenticides respectively. In Pakistan, these poisons are major contributors for homicidal and suicidal deaths because it is cheap and easily available. Phosphine is a gas liberated from Aluminium and Zinc Phosphides, in a reaction with acid. We report two cases of phosphine detection in such complex matrices. Case 1. A decapitated putrefied body of a woman was found whose legs and arms were not present. Internal organs including heart, lungs and kidneys were also eaten by animals. Abdominal cavity material was sent for forensic toxicological analysis in author's laboratory. Chances for detection of phosphine gas were very low, as specimen was highly decomposed and putrefied. Case 2. A Cow was found dead in the house of owner with no previous history of any disease. Ingesta of the Cow was submitted to author's laboratory with no pathological information by the veterinary doctor. Ingesta is also considered as a very complex matrix for toxicological analysis. Presumptive testing of phosphine was performed on abdominal cavity material and Ingesta with silver nitrate strip using Conway micro diffusion cell colorimetric technique. Confirmation was performed on Gas Chromatography-Nitrogen phosphorous detector with PLOT column. 10 mL samples of both abdominal cavity material and Ingesta were taken in separate headspace vials. Small amount of Zinc dust was added along with 2 mL of 6N sulphuric acid. Vials were then crimped and heated at 70 °C in oven for 30 minutes. 0.5 mL sample from headspace was manually injected in GC-NPD. Phosphine was detected in abdominal cavity material of woman and ingesta of cow. Total run time of the method is only 2 minutes. Peak of the phosphine was observed at 1.2 min retention time. Although there was less probability of phosphine gas detection from these specimens however analysis was attempted and results were found positive for phosphine. There is very less data available for the detection of poisons on putrefied specimens. Detection of phosphine, in matrices like exhumed specimens, putrefied parts or Ingesta of animals is a bit-challenging task for Forensic Toxicologists due to its tendency to escape from decomposed samples. In such cases, analysis must be attempted for the provision of justice. Phosphine is a very small molecule, but it can still be detected in abdominal cavity material of a putrefied body and Ingesta. There is also a strong need to regularize the sale, availability and purchase of Aluminum or Zinc Phosphide.

0017 Murder on the Midnight Express: Nocturnal Wakefulness and Homicide Risk

Abstract Introduction There is a nocturnal peak in incident suicide risk after adjusting for population wakefulness (Perlis et al., 2016; Tubbs et al., 2020). This peak in risk is hypothesized to result from a series of negative changes in mood, reward processing, and executive function that occur at night and increase the propensity for dysregulated and violent behaviors. Although the unadjusted incidence of dying by homicide is elevated at night, no existing studies of time-of-day and death by violent crime have adjusted for population wakefulness. Methods Data from 48,486 homicide victims with a known time of fatal injury were collected from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for 2003-2017, tabulated by clock hour, age, sex, race, and ethnicity, and combined with population wakefulness data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) for the same years. Homicide counts were additionally characterized by the proportion of cases with blood alcohol level (BAL) of 0, <80mg/dl, or ≥80mg/dl at autopsy and modeled using robust Poisson regression with population wakefulness entered as an offset term, thus producing hourly incident risk ratios (IRR). Results Homicide counts were lowest in the morning (6AM-7AM) and highest at night (10PM-11PM). After adjusting for population wakefulness, the incident risk for death by homicide was elevated between 10PM and 5AM compared to the 24-hour average, with the highest risk between 2AM (IRR: 8.25 [6.62-10.3]) and 3AM (IRR: 7.22 [6.04-8.64]). Moreover, the adjusted risk of dying by homicide was significantly greater at night for those with a BAL≥80mg/dl, such that the risk at 2AM was 13.8-fold greater than the 24-hour average (IRR: 13.8 [10.6-18.1]). Conclusion The risk of homicide death is higher at night after adjusting for population wakefulness and especially among those with alcohol intoxication. Although homicide victims do not choose when to die (unlike suicide victims), neurophysiological changes at night may promote risky behaviors or put victims in more dangerous circumstances than they would be otherwise. Future research should examine sociodemographic, clinical, and circadian risk factors for death by homicide, as well as examine time-of-day patterns in other violent crimes. Support (If Any)

The Community Determinants of Death: Comparing the Macro-Level Predictors of Overdose, Homicide, and Suicide Deaths, 2000 to 2015

The Community Determinants of Death: Comparing the Macro-Level Predictors of Overdose, Homicide, and Suicide Deaths, 2000 to 2015

Rural-urban, age, and gender disparities and trends in suicide and homicide: Multistate evidence across 12 years.

Few studies have simultaneously assessed age and gender trends in homicide and suicide across the rural-urban continuum. Herein, we examine geographic and demographic trends in suicide and homicide death rates by: (1) determining overall macro and disaggregated trends; (2) examining differences in trends based on rural-urban county classification; and (3) identifying differences in stratified trends among age and gender classifications. A retrospective study design used suicide and homicide data (n = 199,456) from years 2005to 2017 across 16 US states. Suicide and homicide deaths were grouped by age, gender, and rural-urban classification for descriptive analyses, and trends were analyzed using Joinpoint trend analysis software. Violence resulted in 142,470 suicide and 56,986 homicide deaths between 2005 and 2017. Among both males and females, overall macro trends of suicide and homicide rates generally increased with greater rurality, and trends in rural rates differed from those in nonrural areas. Joinpoint trend analysis revealed significant increases in male suicide rates in large metropolitan (1.66%), micropolitan (1.78%), and rural areas (1.77%); female suicide rates in large metropolitan (2.17%), small metropolitan (3.25%), and micropolitan areas (3.26%); male homicide rates in large metropolitan areas (10.19%); and female homicide rates in rural areas (8.29%). Finally, when stratified by age, several significant trends were found, including increases in suicide rates among females aged 64 and older in rural areas (11.71%). Heterogeneous trends were found in suicide and homicide rates within specific rural-urban, age, and gender subgroups. Prevention efforts should proactively target those subgroups identified herein as most at-risk of violence.

Relationship of Alcohol Intoxication and Accidental Deaths: A Descriptive Autopsy Study in Nairobi, Kenya.

This study aimed to determine the magnitude of fatalities resulting from accidents and their relation to alcohol intoxication to inform public health policy on the need for their prevention. Materials were all the bodies that fulfilled the criteria of violent fatal outcomes between June 1 2009, and May 31 2010. Bodies were categorized by gender and divided into 10 age groups of 10 years each. A complete forensic autopsy examination was done on each. This is a descriptive prospective study of homicidal deaths in Nairobi from June 1, 2009 –to May 31, 2010. It was carried out at the city Mortuary, Nairobi. In this study, all cases of violent deaths for twelve consecutive months were included. Alcohol level estimation was done on 400 of all the study subjects. The 400 were selected consecutively as every fifth subject. This was a purposeful sampling frame and size. Data was entered on a proforma datasheet. The date, the month, day of the week and time of death were noted. The cases were divided into male and female, and each gender divided into 8 age groups; 0-9, 10-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69 ;> 70 years. Data were analysed using SPSS. The study concluded that other accidents in Kenya are associated with alcohol intoxication, and a large percentage is contributed to by drowning. The study recommend that substance abuse should be interrogated more as a cause of self-destruction.

Suicide, Homicide, and Other Violent Deaths Among People Experiencing Homelessness in the United States: A Cross-sectional Study.

Limited information exists about violent deaths among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) across the United States. Using data from a national reporting system, we describe characteristics of suicides, homicides, and other deaths classified as violent among PEH in the United States. We obtained data on demographic characteristics, mechanisms of injury, and circumstances surrounding violent deaths from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018, in 31 states from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Of 122 113 violent deaths in 31 states during 2016-2018, 1757 (1.4%) occurred among PEH and 3952 (3.2%) occurred among people for whom homelessness status was unknown or missing. Of all violent deaths among PEH, 878 were suicides (1.1% of all suicides), 458 were homicides (1.6% of all homicides), 352 were of undetermined intent (2.8% of all deaths of undetermined intent), and 59 were the result of legal interventions (3.8% of all deaths due to legal interventions). Hanging/suffocation/strangulation was the most common mechanism of suicide among PEH (44.4%), followed by deaths due to firearms (21.6%). Firearms were the most common mechanism of homicide deaths among PEH (48.0%). Black PEH were more likely to die by homicide than by suicide, and White PEH were more likely to die by suicide than by homicide. Among the 843 suicide victims for whom additional information was known, 345 (40.9%) had a history of suicidal thoughts or plans, 245 (29.1%) had disclosed intent to die by suicide, and 183 (21.7%) were receiving treatment for a mental health condition. Efforts to reduce mortality and improve health outcomes among PEH should consider the high rates of violent deaths in this population.

Patterns of homicidal deaths in District Swat

Introduction: The forensic aspects of homicidal deaths demand an inquiry into the various types of such occurrences, as well as the manifest reasons associated with them. In our country, many social and cultural aspects underlie the occurrence of homicidal deaths that need to be properly investigated in terms of patterns and weaponry involved.
 Objective: To determine the weaponry pattern of homicidal deaths in cases presented for autopsies at Swat.
 Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat from January 2019 to December 2019. The study opted a sample enrollment based on census based sampling using non-probability consecutive sampling. About 220 subjects of homicidal deaths were taken and studied in detail. A pre-designed questionnaire with demographic details was used as the data collection tool. SPSS v 25.0 was used for descriptive data analysis; frequency and percentages were calculated for categorical variables while mean ± S.D. were applied for numerical variables.
 Results: Out of total 220 autopsies, in 80% cases cause of death was due to firearm injury, followed by sharp weapons in10%, bomb blast and ligature related deaths in 6%, and blunt trauma in 4% cases. The male to female ratio of homicidal cases showed a male predominance, with 86% male and 14% female cases. The cause of death of these cases showed that 27.72% died from injury to brain, followed by Heart & Lung injuries at 18.64%, and the remaining due to injuries of other organs.
 Conclusion: Firearm was the common weapon of homicidal deaths with male predominance in district Swat; injury to the brain was the leading cause of death.

Summary for Patients: Homicide Deaths Among Adults Living With Handgun Owners in California.

Summary for Patients: Homicide Deaths Among Adults Living With Handgun Owners in California.

Homicide Deaths Among Adult Cohabitants of Handgun Owners in California, 2004 to 2016 : A Cohort Study.

Although personal protection is a major motivation for purchasing firearms, existing studies suggest that people living in homes with firearms have higher risks for dying by homicide. Distribution of those risks among household members is poorly understood. To estimate the association between living with a lawful handgun owner and risk for homicide victimization. This retrospective cohort study followed 17.6 million adult residents of California for up to 12 years 2 months (18 October 2004 through 31 December 2016). Cohort members did not own handguns, but some started residing with lawful handgun owners during follow-up. California. 17569096 voter registrants aged 21 years or older. Homicide (overall, by firearm, and by other methods) and homicide occurring in the victim's home. Of 595448 cohort members who commenced residing with handgun owners, two thirds were women. A total of 737012 cohort members died; 2293 died by homicide. Overall rates of homicide were more than twice as high among cohabitants of handgun owners than among cohabitants of nonowners (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.78 to 3.05]). These elevated rates were driven largely by higher rates of homicide by firearm (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.83 [CI, 2.05 to 3.91]). Among homicides occurring at home, cohabitants of owners had sevenfold higher rates of being fatally shot by a spouse or intimate partner (adjusted hazard ratio, 7.16 [CI, 4.04 to 12.69]); 84% of these victims were female. Some cohort members classified as unexposed may have lived in homes with handguns. Residents of homes with and without handguns may have differed on unobserved traits associated with homicide risk. Living with a handgun owner is associated with substantially elevated risk for dying by homicide. Women are disproportionately affected. The National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research, the Fund for a Safer Future, the Joyce Foundation, Stanford Law School, and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The effect of legislation on firearm-related deaths in Canada: a systematic review.

BackgroundFirearm misuse is common in cases of homicide, suicide and unintentional injury; this is a major public health issue, with societal and economic costs extending beyond the immediate injury or loss of life. We sought to review the evidence on the effectiveness of Canadian legislation in reducing deaths caused by firearms.MethodsFive databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched from inception to May 2021 for studies evaluating the effect of Canadian gun control laws Bill C-51 (1977), Bill C-17 (1991) and Bill C-68 (1995) on rates of firearm-related death. Two reviewers performed article screening independently and in duplicate. We synthesized data using descriptive statistics. The primary outcome of interest was firearm-related mortality rates. Because of study heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not performed.ResultsOverall, 1479 articles were screened, and 18 studies were included. Ten studies examined the effect on homicides, of which 5 reported a reduction during the postlegislation period; 1 study reported evidence of substitution from firearms to other methods of homicide among people aged 15–24 years. Eleven studies evaluated the effect on suicides, with 9 finding a reduction in suicide rates. Eight of these studies reported evidence of substitution from firearms to other suicide methods. Two studies investigated accidental deaths; neither reported any benefit after legislation.InterpretationEvidence supporting the effectiveness of Canadian firearms legislation in the reduction of homicide and accidental death rates is inconclusive; a decrease in firearm-related suicide rates was observed by most studies, but evidence of method substitution was also identified. Re-evaluation of existing laws may be beneficial to build an improved and effective evidence-based national framework for prevention of gun violence. PROSPERO registrationCRD42020192486

Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention in Pediatric Health-care Settings.

Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention in Pediatric Health-care Settings.

Study of Toxin ‘Ricinine’ present in Ricinus communis by TLC and GC-MS A Forensic Perspective

Ricinus communis popularly known as castor plant belongs to the family of Euphorbiaceae. The whole plant had a great potential of being used in bio terrorism all around the world. In the view of forensic investigations, the plant contains an active principle component ‘ricin’ which is highly toxic to people, animals and insects frequently encountered in cases such as suicidal, accidental and homicidal deaths. In the present study, fresh leaves extract of the plant was used for phytochemical screening of the alkaloids in both methanol and n-hexane solvents. The result showed the presence of alkaloids such as steroids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, and Flavonoids. Thin layer chromatography was performed for preliminary examination of the main toxins using the solvent system (petroleum ether, diethyl ether and acetic acid in 80:18:2 v/v/v ratio). The poly complex structured compounds of the leaf extract were analyzed by using GC-MS. The chromatogram obtained revealed the presence of ricinine, heptadecane, octadecane, Pentadecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl, sulfurous acid, pentyl tetradecyl ester, hexadecane, 3-pyridinecarbonitrile, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl, octadecane, 2-methyl, nonadecane, 9-methyl, phthalic acid, di(6-methylhept-2-yl) ester, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis-(3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) phthalate in the leaf extract of Ricinus communis.

Absolute versus relative socioeconomic disadvantage and homicide: a spatial ecological case\u2013control study of US zip codes

BackgroundHomicide is a major cause of death and contributes to health disparities in the United States. This burden overwhelmingly affects people from racial and ethnic minority populations as homicide occurs more often in neighborhoods with high proportions of racial and ethnic minority residents. Research has identified that environmental factors contribute to variation in homicide rates between neighborhoods; however, it is not clear why some neighborhoods with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minority residents have high homicide rates while neighborhoods with similar demographic compositions do not. The aim of this study was to assess whether relative socioeconomic disadvantage, (i.e., income inequality), or absolute socioeconomic disadvantage (i.e., income) measured at the ZIP code- and state-levels, is associated with high homicide rates in US ZIP codes, independent of racial and ethnic composition.MethodsThis ecological case–control study compared median household income and income inequality in 250 ZIP codes with the highest homicide rate in our sample in 2017 (cases) to 250 ZIP codes that did not experience any homicide deaths in 2017 (controls). Cases were matched to controls 1:1 based on demographic composition. Variables were measured at both the ZIP code- and state-levels.ResultsLower median household income at the ZIP code-level contributed most substantially to the homicide rate. Income inequality at the state-level, however, was additionally significant when controlling for both ZIP code- and state-level factors.ConclusionsArea-based interventions that improve absolute measures of ZIP code socioeconomic disadvantage may reduce gaps in homicide rates.

Non-Firearm-related Homicides at the Medical University of South Carolina, 2013-2018.

After high-profile events involving firearms, gun violence often becomes the center stage of public discourse with national media attention, overshadowing less common causes of homicidal deaths, such as sharp force injury, blunt trauma, and asphyxia. A retrospective analysis of all cases referred for medicolegal autopsy to the Medical and Forensic Autopsy Division of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina from 2013 to 2018 documented 793 deaths where the manner was classified as homicide. Of these, 18% (144) of the deaths were caused by non-firearm-inflicted injuries. Nonfirearm homicides were further categorized by method; demographic data including decedent age, race, and sex; and other variables such as incident site, decedent relationship status to the alleged perpetrator, number of other homicide fatalities associated with a homicide event, and the presence of drugs and alcohol in the decedents. Data accrued in this review were compared with national statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to the overall Medical University of South Carolina firearm-related homicide decedent demographic statistics for this same period. Findings augment existing information available regarding non-gun-related homicides and may be valuable in contributing to the ongoing public and political debate regarding firearm and nonfirearm fatalities.

The resume

In any case of homicide, proof of corpus delicti is very important, as entirety of corpus and the proof of homicidal death are very essential ingredients for successful prosecution, otherwise due to lack of the vital points the case become weak. Crime scene investigation is very grim in cases where the actual scene of crime is not known. Sometimes the criminal attempt to mislead the investigation by dismembering the victim’s body and disposed it off. The actual crime scene may contain very important clues related to the case but in these types of cases a crime scene investigator may not be able to examine the actual primary scene of crime. Detailed Scientific examination of the secondary location and by putting together seemingly insignificant clues the investigator was able to reconstruct whole sequence of events in the crime and identified the victim and locate all the places and the persons involved in the crime. Present study deals forensic investigation of an important case in which crime was committed at one location and the body parts was disposed off in two different locations.

A comparative analysis of pattern of homicidal deaths among males and females in a district of West Bengal

An observational, cross-sectional study was undertaken among all cases of unlawful homicidal deaths during one year in Malda district of West Bengal to find out the pattern of homicidal deaths, to compare the differences between male and female homicidal deaths and also to find any relationship with social and demographic factors. It was found that most of the female victims are in reproductive age-group and they were most commonly killed by manual and ligature strangulation whereas the male victims of homicide were mostly in economically productive age group and they were most commonly killed by mechanical injuries like incised wound, penetrating wound, head injury and gunshot injuries. The difference between males and females regarding cause of death was significant. The antecedent history of illicit sexual relations leading to homicide was significantly more among females. It was also seen that illicit sexual behaviour led to homicide in most of the unmarried or divorced female victims whereas in case of married woman, illicit sexual behaviour of the husband led to homicide of that woman in about fifty percent of the cases. Disputes regarding money or property was the major antecedent history among male homicide victims. So awareness should be built-up among unmarried, separated and divorced woman against illicit sexual relationship. Adult and earning male members of the family should be cautioned about debt traps and also should be made aware about procedures of legal action to be taken in case of property dispute with relatives and neighbours.

The Community Determinants of Death: Comparing the Macro-Level Predictors of Overdose, Homicide, and Suicide Deaths, 2000 to 2015

A growing body of research has begun to identify the social and ecological predictors of community overdose rates. However, questions remain about these relationships, and it is unclear whether the predictors of community overdose concentrations mirror those of other fatal social problems, such as homicide and suicide. Drawing on three leading ecological theories of overdose concentrations, the present study provides a longitudinal macro-level analysis of the community “determinants of death” for overdose (overall and by substance type), homicide, and suicide. Specifically, the authors use Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restricted-access mortality data, combined with measures of community social, economic, legal, and health indicators for the period from 2000 to 2015. Findings from time-series models reveal that county concentrations of overdose are linked to multiple theoretically driven factors—including opioid prescription rates, population decline, county health problems, and manufacturing employment—with several key similarities in the determinants of death across overdose, homicide, and suicide.

Medicinal Value of Poisonous Plants - A Review Article

Background : Since the Ayurvedais a centrefor many therapeutic herbs, However, certain plants are poisonous by nature, making it impossible to consume them without purification . If used properly, these deadly plants are incredibly beneficial. Various techniques are suggested in Ayurvedicwritings for the Shodhanaof toxic plants. Many ailments, such as Pandu, Jwara, Aaamvata, etc., are treated with plants like Vatsanabha. Kuchlais used to treat a number of illnesses, including Grahani, Unmada, and Adhmaan. Both humans and animals have frequentlybeen observed ingesting these toxic plants. These poisonous plants have the potential to cause accidental, homicidal and suicidal deaths. Aim: By learning about the medicinal properties of dangerous plants, this project aims to raise public knowledge about them. Material And Method: consulted from a range of databases, books, websites, and publications. Result: Poisonous plant classification was done. These deadly plants’s typical chemical components are outlined. Their mode of action has been documented. The Shodhanaof these toxic plants have been described These poisonous plants have been used therapeutically. Discussion and Conclusion : This entire investigation came to the conclusion that, when used properly, deadly plants can have medical value. These toxic herbs are employed in a variety of compositions with special care. The knowledge of toxicity and usefulness of the poisonous plants are the main concern in present day scenario.

Profile of Autopsy Cases at District Hospital, South India in Pandemic Year 2020

Autopsy profile is one of the essential inputs for National Statistics. It gives an insight into the prevailing unnatural causes of death in the vicinity and subsequently helps stake holders take appropriate measures to prevent the same. The present study was conducted in district hospital, South India in the pandemic year, 2020. A total of 808 medico legal autopsies were conducted in Government District Hospital, Tumkur which is high in spite of pandemic and lockdown in place. Among them majority of victims were male constituting 78.85% and females attributing to 21.15% of total cases. Manner of death was analysed and accidental deaths formed the major chunk of cases comprising of 351 cases (43.44%). Suicidal deaths comprised of 35.87 % of cases and homicide deaths accounted for 3.71% of cases. Among males maximum number of cases was recorded in fourth decade with 147 cases. While in females maximum cases fell in third decade of life with 51 cases. Road traffic accident was the prime most cause of death with 241 cases comprising of 30% of total cases. Second most common cause was hanging with 137 cases comprising 17% of total cases. Surprisingly natural deaths constituted third most common cause with 125 cases comprising of 15% of the cases. Majority of cases were reported in middle age group 21-50 years which form the bread winner group. With adequate safety precautions and counselling these unnatural deaths could be prevented.