A Routine Screening Procedure for Toxicological Specimens

(Public Analyst’s Deparlment, Clive Road, Portsmoutll) Details are given of a systematic 1’outine procedure Jor the examination l-i “utftofoniluf tp””imens in cases of suspected poisoning’ It incorporates ;;”-;i;.Aliffi ;naiftlcat metnoas ior the detection’ estimation and ia”riin”Ji”” “i “.pirin- and 5 : 5 di-substituted barbiturates Reference is mad” to other drugs commonly prescribed in Great Britain which may be encountercd in the Procedurc’ The Laboratory acts in an official capacity- for 3 Coroners who now ,rrU-if upp.o*i-ately 90 cases per annum’ involving some 2JO specimens’ A .;;;;i;i;;;rioa iso+oo shows that a total number ol 580 specimens uere ‘rt.i,”a i” connection with 222 cases of suspected poisoning’ “*i, ++ p.. of these cases, death was ihown- to. be the result of barbi- trr.ui” ouJ.aor”t, and in 22 cases (i0 per cent )’ alcohol w.as a contributory i”.i”.. f, 13 cases (6 per cent.) death-was attributed-t-o salicylate poisoning’ ;;htt, “ur”.