S Manjunath

Colchicine poisoning: a case report and review of literature

Colchicine, a natural pseudo-alkaloid found in plants such as the Colchicum autumnale and Gloriosa superba has tremendous medicinal properties, but if misused by an unqualified person can result in fatal consequences. We report a case of colchicine poisoning in an adult man as a result of consumption of the herb G. superba by a 50-year-old man and review the literature.

Accidental electrocution – reconstruction of events

Abstract As electricity is an indispensable part of todays world, electrocution is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Deaths due to electrocution that are witnessed do not pose a problem as to the manner and cause of death. However, unwitnessed deaths can raise suspicions regarding the manner of death. A case of fatal electrocution is reported here that was diagnosed to be accidental in manner, with the help of a reconstruction of events through a proper investigation.

Excavation of the chest due to railway mishap

Injuries sustained due to railway mishaps are well documented. In these mishaps, ascertaining the cause of death is usually not difficult, but frequently circumstances do raise questions as to the manner of death. It is a real challenge for an autopsy surgeon to correlate the alleged history with injuries present on the body, thereby helping the investigating officer to come to a conclusion on the manner of death. Here, we present a case of an unusual excavation injury to the chest due to train impact, and discuss the mechanism of causation of this injury and the manner of death.