ABSTRACT
Toxicological studies may be related to living subjects or deceased persons. In living subjects, one can examine vomitus, stomach contents, feces, urine, blood, and biopsy material. This chapter concerns toxicological studies which may relate to salicylate, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, lead, boron, thallium, arsenic, mercury, and nickel. It discusses tests on urine which may relate to injury of the kidney or liver, two organs which are frequently affected by toxic agents. It is important to recognize that there is a considerable overlap between the chapters devoted to toxicological studies and those concerned with drugs of abuse, therapeutic drugs, and trace metals. Toxic agents in many instances simulate disease states in their effects on the body. For this reason, it is important to consider the inclusion of screening tests as an initial part of any new patient's workup.
