THE TOXIC AVENGER
by
John Harris Trestrail, III, RPh, FAACT DABAT
Toxicologist

From the grave, if lips could speak
the person who was, pleads--you must seek
the individual who had my trust,
and thru deceit and cunning into the grave did thrust
the body once alive and well,
now silenced by death, who cannot tell
my death was NOT what all thought then,
for a poison brought my life to end!

Avenge me now, for you alone
can find the truth beneath this stone.
Look close and the clues you will see
that tell the tale of what killed me.
For you must tell all others now,
That this was MURDER--and tell them how!
For if no one looks to find what's here,
an injustice was done to a life so dear.
If now only you could hear,
I'd speak as plain as it could be.
Since I can't--You must AVENGE ME!

printed with written permission by the author.

UNIT OBJECTIVES

Students should be able to:

  • Name the major parts of the circulatory and excretory systems.
  • Name and describe the various types of equipment used by forensic toxicologists.
  • Perform tests to identify certain drugs and/or poisons.
  • Demonstrate the ability to obtain and read results from paper chromatography.
  • Determine the Rf (rate of flow) value.
  • Identify an unknown drug and/or poison through testing characteristics.
ASSIGNMENTS
SPECIFICS
Criminalistics by Saferstein

Chapter 10 pp. 264-295
Chapter 9 pp. 233-263
Chapter 5 pp. 119-148
Chapter 6 pp. 150-168
Crime Scene by Ragle

Chapter 9 pp. 321-352
Class Notes PowerPoint--You will need a password. Click here; enter the password; and view the presentation
Activities

Toxicology Outline
Drug Summary and Conclusions
Labs

ABC’s of PDRs
Unknown Powder Lab
Urine Analysis Lab
Paper Chromatography
Possible Projects Poison Booklets
Articles FDA’s Forensic Center: Speedy, Sophisticated Sleuthing
The Case of Napoleon Bonaparte
A New Kind of Bad Hair Day
The Toxic Patient
Guest Speaker School Resource Officer--Drug Field Testing and Breathalyzer
Other

Video

  • Drug Detectives
  • Analysis of A Toxic Death

Logic Problem 3
Crossword Review
Anatomy Independent Study Excretory System
Review Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Do Chapter 5, 6, 9, and 10

See Teacher Review Sheet
Assessments Performance Assessment Toxicology--Poison Booklet

Written Knowledge and Analysis Test

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

“PICK YOUR POISON”

Toxicology is the study of poisons, and their chemical and physical effects on the body. As a class we will design a “Weekley Reader” of most important facts about various types of poisons.

First research the drug assigned to you in class. Write your report in a paragraph format that could be easily understood by a 5th or 6th grader. Include a description of the drug, type, where and what it comes from its effect(s) on the body, medical uses if any, possible abuse or addiction, schedule on the Controlled Substance Act, and anything that may be unique to your drug. It must be double spaced and in 12 pt type. Should be a page and a half to two pages.

Then research one poison for three of five topics. These topics include: household poisons, environmental poisons, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, food, and poisons of literature or history. (You may do a fourth one for extra credit.) Your report will be no longer than one page per poison. List at least 5 major points about each type of poison. Points must include a description of the poison or organism with the poison, type of poison, level of toxicity, and body symptoms. The additional points could include "forensic" detection, possible cure, lasting effects, and treatment. If possible include an illustration, drawing or picture of the poison or the cause of the poisoning.

No two people will research the same poison. Once you have your poisons, give your list to the teacher. You will need two corroborating sources listed as works consulted at the bottom of the page. Place your page in the folder marked with the appropriate topic heading. A sample page follows.

The case whether past or present, fact or fiction, will be written similarly to the drug report. Describe the case, including names, dates, and places. In addition describe the drug/poison giving its effects on the body. Finally discuss the "forensic evidence" that ties the case to this unit, including at least three major points. Double space with 12 pt type. Should be a page to two pages in length.

Use the website below to help you get started.
RESOURCES
  
Cases Go to the Crime Library and search for poison or poisoning. You should find several cases to research.
Medline Drug Information http://www.drugwatch.com/
Health A to Z Click on the alphabet and find info about your poisons and/or drugs.
John Hopkins ABX Guide Some poison choices listed, Also, use his main index to see if the drug you are researching is there.
General Notes about Poisonings by Paul Smith There are a few choices here.

 

PERFORMANCE EXEMPLAR

THE MERRY BLACK WIDOW
Barbara Weekley
3/7/99

Description: The black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) is one of two poisonous spiders dangerous to humans. It is entirely black except for the red hour- glass marking on its ventral surface. Only females have “teeth” large enough to bite.

Type of Poison: Alpha-latrotoxin is a neurotoxin that attacks the neuromuscular junctions.

The Bite: The toxin enters the body through the bite of the spider. The victim may feel an initial pricking sensation followed by regional lymph node tenderness one to two hours later. The bite site may be surrounded by a white area with a thin ring of redness less than a centimeter from the bite.

Body Symptoms: Muscle cramping may be severe, to the point that it may be mistaken for a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Other associated autonomic symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sweating, hypertension (high blood pressure), and tachycardia (rapid heart beat)

Toxicity: The bite is rarely life threatening, even in small children and the elderly.

Treatment: Most of the time patients are treated with analgesia (a pain reliever) and hydration (plenty of water). There is an antivenin that comes from horse serum that can be used to relieve the pain. On rare occasions people may be allergic to this serum and can go into anaphylactic shock.

References:

“Spiders”, Audubon Society Encyclopedia of Animal Life, New York, 1982

Clancy, Cathleen. “Poison Pearls and Perils.” October 1997. Online. AOL. 7Mar.1999. Available http://www.poison.org/spiders.htm

 

SCORING SHEET for THE POISONS

  • word processed according to the guidelines
  • sufficient and correct information on 5 topics per poison
  • two sources for each poison

Duplicated someone's choice (no points on the first three statements)

 

  • 5 points
  • 25 points
  • 10 points

20 points maximum

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