The history of toxicology
Toxicology has been about for many years, more like hundreds of years. The people of the world have been studying forensic toxicology; they have studied the poisonous plant and animal extraction for about 1000 years. By 1500BC written evidence had been indicated that hemlock, opium, arrow poisons, and certain metals were used to poison enemies or for state executions. With time poisons began to become more used.
Paracelsus determined that specific chemicals were actually responsible for the toxicity of a plant or animal poison. He also documented that the body's response to those chemicals depended on the dose received. His studies revealed that small doses of a substance might be harmless or beneficial whereas larger doses could be toxic. This is now known as the dose-response relationship, a major concept of toxicology.
Orfila, a Spanish physician, is often referred to as the founder of toxicology. It was Orfila who first established a systematic correlation between the chemical and biological properties of poisons of the time. He demonstrated effects of poisons on specific organs by analyzing autopsy materials for poisons and their associated tissue damage.
Today one of the leading Forensic Toxicologists is The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) president Olaf H. Drummer, who is currently based out of London. Dr. Drummer has based his whole life around the fascinating study of Forensic Toxicology.
Paracelsus determined that specific chemicals were actually responsible for the toxicity of a plant or animal poison. He also documented that the body's response to those chemicals depended on the dose received. His studies revealed that small doses of a substance might be harmless or beneficial whereas larger doses could be toxic. This is now known as the dose-response relationship, a major concept of toxicology.
Orfila, a Spanish physician, is often referred to as the founder of toxicology. It was Orfila who first established a systematic correlation between the chemical and biological properties of poisons of the time. He demonstrated effects of poisons on specific organs by analyzing autopsy materials for poisons and their associated tissue damage.
Today one of the leading Forensic Toxicologists is The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) president Olaf H. Drummer, who is currently based out of London. Dr. Drummer has based his whole life around the fascinating study of Forensic Toxicology.