A Statistical Analysis of Poisoning Cases in Medico Legal Autopsy-A Retrospective Study

Poison and deaths due to poisoning are perhaps as old as the human civilization. With the increase in population and development of society human beings became more complicated in their thinking and approach towards life and started taking one's own life (suicide) or other's lives (homicide) using some of these substances. In this study at the Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam during the period from 1st January to 31st December 2010, a total number of 2476 Medico legal autopsies were carried out of which 5.25% of the deaths were due to poisoning, the male to female ratio being 1.8:1. 31.52% of the victims belonged to the age group of 20 -29 years followed by 30 - 39 years (25.37%). 71.50% of victims belonged to the lower class and 11.53% were unemployed. The others epidemiological data, i.e. occupation, motive and circumstances of the death, name and availability of poison, etc. were discussed to know the pattern of poisoning as well as way of preventions by keeping potentially dangerous substances out of vulnerable hands is a sure way to prevent unintentional poisoning.