INTRODUCTION
The action of all poison is almost same. Commonly they either stop the supply of oxygen to the body tissues or inhibit the enzymes associated with the respiration mechanism and the person dies due to stoppage of oxygen availability. The site of action is said to be at the myoneural junctions and synapses of the ganglions.
The mode of stoppage varies for example insecticides and pesticides are powerful inhibitors of cholinesterase. In poisoning by insecticides and accumulates and results in hyper excitation of the voluntary and involuntary muscles.
A drop in the activity of cholinesterase to 3 percent of normal or lower is associated with toxic symptoms and leads to death resulting from respiratory failure or circulatory arrest.
In carbon monoxide poisoning, the gas having greater affinity combines easily with haemoglobin and make the unable to carry oxygen to various tissues of the body.
Opiates, alcohols, barbiturates, dhatura etc. paralyze the respiratory centers of the brain resulting in respiratory failure.
The glycosides poisons affect the heart muscles and the pumping of blood is stopped.
Action of Poison
The action of poison may be
- Local Action
- Remote Action
- Local & Remote Actions
- General Actions
Local Action
The local action means its direct action on the tissues and cause corrosion e.g. strong mineral acids and alkalis , irritation and inflammation in cantharides or some nervous effects as in the case of dilation of the pupil by atropine.
Remote Action
Remote action results from the absorption of the poison into the system e.g. alcohol, alkaloids or other drugs affect the organs after being absorbed into the system.
Local And Remote Actions
Some poisons produce both local and remote actions. In such cases, there is destructive action on the tissue with which they come in contact and there is also a toxic affect after absorption e.g. oxalic acid.
General Action
General action results when the absorbed poison evokes response from a wide variety of tissues beyond one or two systems e.g. arsenic, mercury insecticidal compounds etc.
Administration Of Poison
■ Most of the poison affects the person immediately, if not, the poison is eliminated from the body by excretions or gets metabolized or detoxified into non-toxic metabolite which is eliminated slowly.
■ Some poisons have tendency to get accumulated in the body tissues and when a fatal level is reached, the person dies.
■ Arsenic and DDT as among such poisons, which have been reportedly used as slow poison since ages for homicidal purposes.
■ The absorption of DDT through skin and accumulation behavior may result into accidental death.
