ASHISH Kr. TRIPATHI

A person under the influence of alcohol who have lost control of one’s faculties to such extent as to render him unable to execute safely the occupation in which he was engaged at particular time.

So all drunk have taken alcohol but all who have taken alcohol are not drunk.

Request letter from authorized body(police) Consent of the drunk person

but if drunk person reject , then he

Can be examined even with the

help of police

History General examination Laboratory investigation

The history of the relevant event should be obtained from the accused.

Enquire about present health status. Past and personal history about alcohol and

other addictions(CAGE). Social and family impacts of his/her habits.

Vitals Eyes Skin Mouth General behavior Neurological

General appearance Visual acuity(using the snellen’s chart) Intrinsic muscles : Pupil(Mc Ewan sign)

Reaction to light Extrinsic muscles : Convergence

Strabismus

Nystagmus

General state of mouth, teeth & tongue. Smell of breath should be recorded.

General manner Speech State of dress Self control

Memory and mental alertness Reflexes Handwriting Muscular co-ordination Stance Gait: -Manner of walking

- Reaction time to a direction to turn

-Manner of turning

During collection of blood spirit must not be used for cleaning the skin

Skin is cleaned with soap and water or solution of 1:1000 mercuric chloride

Syringe must be free from any trace of alcohol Blood sample should be preserved by addition of

100mg NaF & 30mg potassium oxalate for 10ml blood followed by through shaking

10ml blood=100mg NaF+ 30mg pot. oxalate

Kozelka and Hine test Cavett test

Principle: alcohol containing test substance reduces potassium dichromate solution.

2 samples are required:- 1)as soon as possible following incident 2) after 25-30 minuteAt equilibrium blood :urine alcohol= 1:1.3As the time of 2nd specimen is taken as the time of equilibrium,soConc. In bloodConc. In blood=1/1.3 =1/1.3 xx conc.in urine conc.in urine

Disadvantages:-1. Max. concn. In urine reaches 20-25 min later than blood2. After max. concn in blood, Urine conc.= blood conc.+ 20-30 % of blood conc.3.Alcohol may passes on either direction through the lining of the

bladder depending on relative concerntration of alcohol in blood & urine

Breathalyser: Gold Standard method Principle:

Alcohol absorbs radiation in infra red region of the spectrum and amount of infra red(I) absorbed by the vapour is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol(A) in that vapour.

I α A

c/f: 1.Smell of alcohol in breath 2.Slurred speech ,thick & unsteady voice 3.Loss of self control , clearness of intellect,

unsteady gait, vacant look & dilated pupils.

4.Incresed pulse rate

Blood alcohol concerntration

< 10mg% sober

20-70 mg% drinking

80-100mg% Under the influence

150-300mg% drunk

> 400mg% Coma & death

The essentials of forensic medicine and toxicology by Dr. K.S.N. REDDY 28TH edition.

Principles of forensic medicine by APURBA NANDY.

IN VINO VERITAS

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