2. 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.
3. 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
4. History
General examination
Laboratory investigation
5. 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.
7. General appearance
Visual acuity(using the snellen’s chart)
Intrinsic muscles : Pupil(Mc Ewan sign)
Reaction to light
Extrinsic muscles : Convergence
Strabismus
Nystagmus
8. General state of mouth, teeth & tongue.
Smell of breath should be recorded.
9. General manner
Speech
State of dress
Self control
10. Memory and mental alertness
Reflexes
Handwriting
Muscular co-ordination
Stance
Gait: -Manner of walking
- Reaction time to a direction to turn
-Manner of turning
11.
12.
13. 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
14. Kozelka and Hine test
Cavett test
Principle: alcohol containing test substance
reduces potassium dichromate solution.
15. 2 samples are required:-
1)as soon as possible following incident
2) after 25-30 minute
At equilibrium blood :urine alcohol= 1:1.3
As the time of 2nd specimen is taken as the time of equilibrium,so
Conc. In blood=1/1.3 x conc.in urine
Disadvantages:-
9. Max. concn. In urine reaches 20-25 min later than blood
10. 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
16. 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.
IαA
17. 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
18. Blood alcohol concerntration
< 10mg% sober
20-70 mg% drinking
80-100mg% Under the influence
150-300mg% drunk
> 400mg% Coma & death
19. The essentials of forensic medicine and
toxicology by Dr. K.S.N. REDDY 28TH
edition.
Principles of forensic medicine by APURBA
NANDY.
