TNPG 2006 FORENSIC MEDICINE

FORENSIC MEDICINE

1) Magnan Symptom is seen with

a. Cocaine

b. Organophosphorus Poisoning

c. Snake Bite

d. Hanging

Answer (a) Cocaine

Reference: Parikh 6^th Edition Page 11.9

2) Post mortem lividity is useful to access

a. Time since death

b. To know the weapon used

c. Position of the body after death

d. None of the above

Answer : (c ) Position of the body after death

Reference:

The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Narayana Reddy Chapter 7 about postmortem changes

Principles of Forensic Medicine by Apurba Nandy 1st Edition Page 151

Parikh 6^th Edition 3.10

Facts

Hypostasis is discolouration of the skin and organs after death due to accumulation of fluid blood in the dependent parts of the body. Post mortem lividity is also called

· Post mortem hypostasis

· Livor Mortis

· Vivices

· Suggilation

· Postmortem Staining

3) In case of drowning in Sea water

a. Hb increases

b. Hb Decreases

c. NO change

d. Either

Answer (a) Hb Increases

Reference: Apurva Nandhi 1^st Edition Page 336

Ä The blood is thick in case of death due to Drowning in Sea Water (wet drowning Type II – B) and is thin due to hemolysis in case of drowning in fresh water (wet drowning Type II – A)

4) All are the characteristic features of Superficial burns except

a. Damage no deeper than papillary dermis

b. Blisters seen

c. Loss of Epidermis

d. Pinprick is painful

Answer (d) Pinprick is painful

Reference: Bailey and Love 24^th Edition Page 270

5) The cephalic index of Indian population is between:

a. 70 to 75

b. 75 to 80

c. 80 to 85

d. 85 to 90

Answer 2. 75-80.

Reference The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology 21^st Edition : K.S.Narayana Reddy Page 50

Discussion

Ä The Indian skull is Caucasian with few Negroid Characters

Ä Cephalic Index = Maximum Breadth of the Skull x 100

Maximum Length of the Skull

Type of Skull	Cephalic Index	Race
Dolicocephalic	70 - 74.9	Pure Aryans, Aborigens, Negroes	Long Headed	Long headed	Oblong Headed
Mesaticephalic	75 - 79.9	Europeans, Chinese	Medium Headed	Medium Long Headed	Intermediate Headed
Brachy cephalic	80 - 84.9	Mongoloid, Native Americans, Asiatic Orientals Ä Koreans Ä Japanese Ä Chinese Ä South East Asians	Broad Headed	Round Headed	Short Headed / Square headed

Since the Indian skull is Caucasian like (with few Negroid characters), we take the value for Europeans i.e. 75 - 79.9 and in the choices given above 75 - 80.

Remember that Caucasians are Europeans. (Have you heard about Caucas Montains and Ural Mountrains of Europe)

Have an Idea about the other Indices

Ä Brachial index = (Length of Radius / Length of Humerus) x 100

§ Europeans : 74.5

§ Negroes : 78.5

Ä Crural index = (Length of Tibia / Length of Femur) x 100

§ Europeans : 83.3

§ Negroes : 86.2

Ä Humero Femoral index = (Length of Humerus / Length of Femur) x 100

§ Europeans : 69

§ Negroes : 72.4

Ä Inter Membral index = (Length of Humerus + Radius / Length of Femur + Tibia) x 100

§ Europeans : more than 70

§ Negroes : less than 70.5

6) Punch drunk syndrome is seen in

a. Boxers

b. Musicians

c. Tailors

d. Carpenters

Answer (a) Boxers

Reference: Narayana Reddy 19^th Edition Page 239

7) Viper snake bite resembles poisoning of

a. Abrus precatoris

b. Sulphuric Acid

c. Organophosphorus

d. Thallium

Answer (a) Abrus precatorius

Reference: Narayana Reddy 19^th Edition Page 460

8) Lesbianism is also called as

a. Tribadism

b. Eonism

c. Sodomy

d. Onanism

Answer (a) tribadism

Reference: Narayana Reddy 19^th Edition Page 344

9) A 25 year old person sustained injury in right eye. He developed right corneal opacity following the injury. Left eye was already having poor vision. Corneoplasty of right eye was done and vision was restored. Medicolegally such injury is labelled as:

a. Grievous.

b. Simple.

c. Dangerous.

d. Serious.

Answer

1. Grievous.

Reference

The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology 21^st Edition : K.S.Narayana Reddy Page 224

Indian Penal Code - Chapter XIV Relevant Sections 319 to 338 - Given in all text books

Discussion

319. Hurt

Whoever causes bodily pain, disease or infirmity to any person is said to cause hurt.

320. Grievous hurt

The following kinds of hurt only are designated as "grievous":-

First- Emasculation.

Secondly- Permanent privation of the sight of either eye.

Thirdly- Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear,

Fourthly- Privation of any member or joint.

Fifthly- Destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint.

Sixthly- Permanent disfiguration of the head or face.

Seventhly- Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth.

Eighthly- Any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits.

Explanation

There is a lot of discussion as to the nature of the Injury. Few say that since the loss is not PERMANENT it is simple Injury. That may sound logical, but when we see the clause eight, which says that any hurt which causes the sufferer unable to follow his ordinary pursuit for 20 days is Grievous. It is rational to assume that a person who had injury in Right Eye and had undergone Corneoplasty would not have used his eyes for at least 20 days. So the injury becomes grievous.

Comments

There is another interesting explanation to this question. Cornea is a part of face (Isn’t it?) and Corneoplasty implies that there is Permanent disfigurement of face à which means that the injury undoubtedly is grievous

Tips

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10) Green stick fracture occurs in

a. Young age

b. Skull

c. Old Age

d. None of the above

Answer (a) Young Age

Reference: Kalava’s Textbook of Orthopaedics, 1^st Edition Page 40

Types of Fractures in Children would include

Ä Greenstick Fractures

o Incomplete fracture seen exclusively in children. One cortex is broken and other is intact

Ä Buckle Fracture - Torus Fracture

o Common in Metaphyseal region and is due to compressive force. The cortex is buckled

Ä Plastic Bowling

o Bone deforms, but does not break and there is micro fracture on the concave side. This is seen in Paired Bones

Ä Epiphyseal Injuries

o See Question 221 TNPG 2004