ABSTRACT
Forensic toxicology can be broadly defined as the study of toxic substances encountered in the course of judicial investigations. In recent years, the bulk of the work performed in the forensic toxicology laboratory has involved analysis for drugs and can therefore be considered as an extension of the work of the drug chemist. The difference is that the toxicologist is usually asked to identify and quantify drugs or other toxic substances in post mortem samples. In many cases he is also required to interpret this information in order to determine whether or not these compounds were a cause or contributing factor in the death of the victim. There are over 10000 toxic substances known although only a few of these are encountered in forensic cases such as homicide, suicide or accidental death.
