Lecture Outline

1
Lecture Outline

• Definition of Forensic Toxicology
• History
• Forensic Science in Canada
• Modernization of forensic toxicology
• Recent history

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Forensic Toxicology

• The study and practice of the application of
  toxicology to the purposes of the law

3
Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
Jack Klugman as Quincy
Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
John S. Ragin as Dr. Robert Asten
4
CSI Crime Scene Investigation
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Ancient Toxicologists

• Herbalists of the ancient past developed a broad
  knowledge of the benefits and detriments of
  plants, animal and insect bites and metals

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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

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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

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Foundation of Toxicology

• PARACELSUS
• (c. 1493-1541)
• What is there that is not poison?
• All things are poison and nothing without poison.
  
• Solely the dose determines that a thing is not
  poison

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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

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Poison

• Cowards weapon
• administered by stealth
• may be chronically administered
• carefully planned means of murder

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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

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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

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Arsenic

• Inheritance Powder
• Odourless, tasteless and readily available
• Symptoms of poisoning non-descript
• Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains
• Middle Ages ? Cholera
• Present day ? Guillian Barré Syndrome
• A technique for detecting arsenic became a
  necessity Marsh Test (1836)

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Foundation of Modern Forensic Toxicology

• Understanding of Chemistry, Pharmacology, and
  Toxicology arise in 1800s
• Isolation of morphine from opium by Serturner in
  1805
• Precipitation tests for alkaloids Winckler 1830
• Reinsch test for arsenic in 1841

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First Successful Toxicologic Investigation

• The father of forensic toxicology
• Professor Orfila (Chair of Legal Medicine at
  Sorbonne)
• Traite des Poisons ou Toxicologie Generale (1814)
  translated to English 1816
• Identified arsenic other poisons
• Evidence sent Madame LaFarge to the guillotine in
  1840.

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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

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Growth of Forensic Toxicology

• Treatise on Poisons in Relation to Medical
  Jurisprudence, Physiology, and the practice of
  Physic-Robert Christison M.D. Edinburgh, 1829
• Manual of Practical Toxicology (condensed version
  by Taylor in the US) 1845

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Canadian Forensic Toxicology

• First recorded case
• Prof Henry Holmes Croft, Kings College Toronto

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Canadian Forensic Toxicology

• analyses the stomach contents of a decedent,
  Sarah King which contained 11 grains of arsenic
• Husband Dr. Henry King of Coburg, On is convicted
  due to testimony of Prof. Croft.

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William Hodson Ellis

• 1867 Became an assistant to Prof. Croft
• 1877 Testified in a rape-murder trial regarding
  the detection of blood stains on trousers
• 1897 Microscopic examination of hair
• 1904 Serological tests for blood

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L. Joslyn Rogers

• 1908 assistant to Ellis
• Professor of Analytical Chemistry at U of T
  (1914-1954)
• Introduced alcohol to courts in Ontario - 1932
• expanded toxicology, fire investigations,
  firearms examinations
• Worked at the CFS until his death in 1967

22
William Derôme

• 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 Médico-Légales
• Would later become the Laboratoire de sciences
  judiciares et de mêdecin légale in Montreal, PQ

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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

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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

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Forensic Toxicology in Canada

• 1941 16 pathologists make up the regional
  pathologist system
• 1942 RCMP crime lab is opened in Ottawa,
  Ontario.

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H. Ward Smith

• 1951 the Attorney Generals lab in Ontario is
  re-organized. Smith is appointed director of the
  laboratory
• The modern era of forensic science in Ontario
  begins

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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

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CSFS
Participants in the October 16, 1953 meeting in
OttawaL to R L. Byrnes, G.H.W. Lucas, L. Levi.
R.A.H. McKeen, B. Peclet, L.J. Rogers, B.B.
Coldwell, C.G. Farmilo, J.A. Churchman, J.M.
Roussel, G. Nadeau, R. McDougall, H.W. Smith,
Unknown, D. Graham.
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Centre of Forensic Sciences

• 1966 the lab is renamed the Centre of Forensic
  Sciences
• 1967 D.M. Lucas is appointed Director of the
  CFS. The toxicology section is expanded to
  include breath testing and alcohol testing.

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Canadian Forensic Toxicology

• Mr. Doug Lucas, originally a chemist, oversaw
  the formation of the current Toxicology Section
  of CFS by combining Alcohol analysis and Drugs
  into one section.

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Canadian Forensic Toxicology

• 1972, the CFS was transferred to the Ministry of
  the Solicitor General in order to separate the
  investigative aspect of justice from the
  administration of justice
• Forensic Pathology became a separate entity
  within the Public Safety Division
• 1975, CFS moved to its present location at 25
  Grosvenor St.

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Canadian Forensic Toxicology
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Centre of Forensic Sciences

• 1992 the Centre of Forensic Sciences opens a
  second laboratory in Sault Ste. Marie the
  Northern Regional Lab
• Provides most of the services that CFS Toronto
  provides

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Forensic Labs in Canada

• RCMP Labs
• Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa,
  Halifax
• Centre of Forensic Sciences Toronto and Sault
  Ste. Marie
• Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciares et de Mêdecin
  Légale- Montreal

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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

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Modernization of Toxicology

• High tech methods have replaced low tech methods
  of our past
• Gas chromatography
• Mass spectrometry
• HPLC
• ELISA
• LC-MS

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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)

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New Challenges

• Increased interest in all things forensic results
  in increased public scrutiny
• pressure to produce results quickly, with
  untested methods and insufficient time
• Miscarriages of justice have placed new pressure
  on laboratory operations and expert witnesses
• Increasing role as a guardian of public health
• determining drug abuse potentials, trends and
  dangers
• e.g. PMA disguised as Ecstasy
• e.g. Percocet abuse in the U.S.A.

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Notorious Forensic Tox Cases

• Jonestown Massacre November 18, 1978
• The Peoples Temple founded by Jim Jones
• Guyana, South America
• 914 followers die after obeying orders to drink
  grape kool-aid laced with cyanide.

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Notorious Forensic Tox Cases

• Chicago, Illinois, 1982
• Seven people collapse suddenly and die after
  taking Tylenol capsules
• Analysis reveals the capsules were laced with
  cyanide
• The case remains unsolved
• Copy cat cases

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Notorious Forensic Tox Cases

• 1995-2000
• Dr. Harold Shipman
• Manchester, England
• Convicted of murder of 15 women by lethal
  injection with morphine
• Suspected of killing up to 265 patients