Lecture Outline
Definition of Forensic Toxicology
History
Forensic Science in Canada
Modernization of forensic toxicology
Recent history
Forensic Toxicology
The study and practice of the
application of toxicology to the
purposes of the law
Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
Jack Klugman as Quincy
Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
John S. Ragin as Dr. Robert Asten
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Ancient Toxicologists
Herbalists of the
ancient past developed
a broad knowledge of
the benefits and
detriments of plants,
animal and insect bites
and metals
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
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
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”
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”
Poison
“Coward’s weapon”
administered by stealth
may be chronically administered
carefully planned means of murder
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
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
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)
Foundation of Modern Forensic
Toxicology
Understanding of Chemistry, Pharmacology,
and Toxicology arise in 1800’s
Isolation of morphine from opium by
Serturner in 1805
Precipitation tests for alkaloids Winckler
1830
Reinsch test for arsenic in 1841
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.
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
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
Canadian Forensic Toxicology
First recorded case
Prof Henry Holmes
Croft, Kings College
Toronto
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.
William Hodson Ellis
 1867 – Became an
assistant to Prof. Croft
 1877 – Testified in a rapemurder trial regarding the
detection of blood stains
on trousers
 1897 – Microscopic
examination of hair
 1904 – Serological tests
for blood
L. Joslyn Rogers
 1908 – assistant to Ellis
 Professor of Analytical
Chemistry at U of T (19141954)
 Introduced alcohol to courts
in Ontario - 1932
 + expanded toxicology, fire
investigations, firearms
examinations
 Worked at the CFS until his
death in 1967
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
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
Dr. E. R. Frankish
 Studied under Derome
 Formed the Attorney General’s
Medico-Legal laboratory in
Ontario in 1932 (5 staff)
 This lab would later become
the Centre of Forensic
Sciences
Forensic Toxicology in Canada
1941 – 16 pathologists make up the regional
pathologist system
1942 – RCMP crime lab is opened in
Ottawa, Ontario.
H. Ward Smith
 1951 – the Attorney
General’s lab in
Ontario is reorganized. Smith is
appointed director of
the laboratory
 The modern era of
forensic science in
Ontario begins
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
CSFS
Participants in the October 16, 1953 meeting in Ottawa
L 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.
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.
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.
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.
Canadian Forensic Toxicology
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
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
Modernization of Toxicology
 Professional societies, certification boards,
advanced training of forensic scientists ensure
that the role of the forensic toxicologist is more
than a “coroner’s chemist”
 Forensic toxicologists more frequently have
advanced degrees, involved in scientific research
and teaching
Modernization of Toxicology
High tech methods
have replaced low tech
methods of our past
 Gas chromatography
 Mass spectrometry
 HPLC
 ELISA
LC-MS
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)
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.
Notorious Forensic Tox Cases
 Jonestown Massacre –
November 18, 1978
 “The People’s Temple”
founded by Jim Jones
 Guyana, South America
 914 followers die after
obeying orders to drink
grape kool-aid laced with
cyanide.
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
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