Poisons act in a variety of ways, but the most deadly of them is by inhibiting enzymes. They may do this by tying up an enzyme in the form of a stable complex, by denaturing it, or by blocking its formation from its apoenzyme and cofactor.
Cyanide acts almost instantly and only a small amount is needed for a lethal dose. The average fatal dose is only 50 or 60 milligram. Cyanide is used as gaseous hydrogen cyanide (H-C=N) and as solid salts, which contain the cyanide ions (H=N). The gas is used for extermination of insects and rodents in ships, warehouses, and railway cars and on certain fruit trees.
Cyanide has more affinity with iron atoms. So it gets tied immediately with the iron atom, which forms haeme part of the Haemoglobin. This makes the iron atom unavailable to carry oxygen atom to the tissues through haemoglobin. So oxygen deficiency at the tissue level occurs. This is called Hypoxia.
Since the poisonous substance causes it, it is also called histotoxic hypoxia. In histotoxic hypoxia the brain is affected first. It results in loss of consciousness in 10-20 seconds and death in 4-5 minutes.
Cyanide blocks the oxidation of glucose inside a cell by forming a stable complex with the oxidation enzymes. Certain enzymes of our body cells, like cytochrome oxidases, contain iron and copper atoms. They normally act by providing electrons for the reduction of oxygen in the cell. Cyanide ties up those mobile electrons, rendering them unavailable for the reduction process.
Thus, cyanide brings an abrupt end to cellular respiration. When this process, which is holding the life of an individual is stopped abruptly, it causes death in a matter of minutes, since all the cells in the body die immediately.
Administration of antidote for cyanide poison is not possible, since the fatal end comes immediately within minutes to a person who has consumed the poison. But if the quantity consumed is below the lethal dose sodium nitrate and sodium thiosulphate may be used to treat cyanide poisoning.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Indians accuse Hogg of using abusive language
The simmering feud between the Indian and Australian teams took another turn on Sunday with the visitors lodging a complaint against left-arm spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language during the second Test.India lodged a formal complaint against Hogg during the disciplinary hearing into Harbhajan Singh's alleged racial abuse directed at Andrew Symonds.
The new development has only intensified the already charged atmosphere in the two camps, who have been engaged in a virtual war of attrition in the second Test which ended ina 122-run loss for India on Sunday.
Horrendous umpiring decisions, which proved costly for India, and the blatantly unsporting conduct of the Australians has left the Indians infuriated with captain Anil Kumble saying at the post-match press conference that "only one team played in the true spirit of the game."
In what has been a week of high drama marked by charges and counter-charges, the latest development only reflects the bitterness between the two teams.
The Australians have accused Harbhajan of racially abusing Symonds during the third day of the Sydney Test and lodged a formal complaint with the umpires, who, however, have gone on record saying they heard nothing offensive.
Harbhajan was subsequently asked to appear for a hearing by ICC Match Referee Mike Procter.
The off-spinner has been charged under rule 3.3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct that deals with using language or gestures that insults a person on the basis of race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
If found guilty, he could be banned for two to four Tests or four to eight One-Dayers. But Harbhajan has vehemently denied saying anything racial during the altercation.
An Aussie first ever to be banned for racist remarks
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was banned for three tests on racial abuse charges, but what is interesting to note is that it was an Australian player who was first to be banned in the history of cricket for racial abuse.Darren Lehmann of Australia was suspended for five-day ODIs over a racial remark in the earshot of the Sri Lankan dressing room during the 2002-03 cricket series.
Lehmann shouted an obscenity during a triangular One-Day International against Sri Lanka in Brisbane — this after he was run-out in a match during the series.
But since then, the Australians claim they have been on the receiving end. During the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist accused his Pakistani counterpart Rasheed Latif of racial abuse.
Rasheed Latif was later cleared by the ICC of racism due to lack of evidence against him, but Indian off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh was not so lucky.
Bhajji was banned for three tests on Sunday night after he was found guilty of racial abuse for allegedly calling Australian all-rounder, Andrew Symonds "a monkey".
India has now launched a counter-attack against Australia by charging Oz spinner Brad Hogg with using abusive language during the second Test.
The Indians lodged a formal complaint during Harbhajan's disciplinary hearing.
The Indian team management says Hogg called some Indian players 'bastards'. Match referee Mike Procter has accepted India's complaint and a separate hearing will be held in Perth.
Meanwhile, controversial umpire Steve Bucknor has been removed from officiating in the third Test in Perth.
Bucknor and fellow umpire Mark Benson were responsible for a string of bad decisions in the second Test in Sydney that went against India.
Both the Indian team management and the BCCI lodged complaints with the ICC against Steve Bucknor, asking for his removal from the remaining matches.
Friday, January 4, 2008
I warned Benazir of terror threat, she ignored it: Mush
New Delhi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has denied all involvement of the military and intelligence agencies in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf said he had, in fact, warned Benazir about the threat to her life but she had ignored his warning.
"She was informed of the threat weeks back," said Musharraf. "She wanted to go back to Liaqat Bagh. The intelligence agencies knew that there is a threat. "
Musharraf said that Benazir took the decision to go there even though the government tried to stop her.
"We stopped her from going. This time, she again decided to go and she went on her own. She went, ignoring the threat."
The President added that foreign intelligence had also known of threats to Benazir.
"Our own intelligence and a foreign Intelligence warned us about a threat to Bhutto. We advised her not to take chances. During my last telecon with Bhutto, I warned her about the security threats," Musharraf insisted.
Speaking about the probable assassins, he said, "Anyone who wants to assassinate must weigh the pros and cons. Who is the maximum gainer from doing this? Would the government be the maximum gainer or somebody else who will gain more?"
Musharraf was vehement in his denials of reports that the military was involved in the assassination, in any capacity.
"No intelligence agency in Pakistan is capable of inducting a man for a suicide attack," he asserted.
"In the last three months, there have been 19 suicide bombings, most of them against the military and the Intelligence. If the same military and Intelligence use the same people, it's a joke!" he snapped.
Musharraf said he knew he, too, was under threat.
"I have lived like this over the years," he said, adding, "I cannot say that I am very secure. I know how to protect myself."
"We have to face things boldly. We have to defeat those who are causing this threat," he said.
Musharraf said he had, in fact, warned Benazir about the threat to her life but she had ignored his warning.
"She was informed of the threat weeks back," said Musharraf. "She wanted to go back to Liaqat Bagh. The intelligence agencies knew that there is a threat. "
Musharraf said that Benazir took the decision to go there even though the government tried to stop her.
"We stopped her from going. This time, she again decided to go and she went on her own. She went, ignoring the threat."
The President added that foreign intelligence had also known of threats to Benazir.
"Our own intelligence and a foreign Intelligence warned us about a threat to Bhutto. We advised her not to take chances. During my last telecon with Bhutto, I warned her about the security threats," Musharraf insisted.
Speaking about the probable assassins, he said, "Anyone who wants to assassinate must weigh the pros and cons. Who is the maximum gainer from doing this? Would the government be the maximum gainer or somebody else who will gain more?"
Musharraf was vehement in his denials of reports that the military was involved in the assassination, in any capacity.
"No intelligence agency in Pakistan is capable of inducting a man for a suicide attack," he asserted.
"In the last three months, there have been 19 suicide bombings, most of them against the military and the Intelligence. If the same military and Intelligence use the same people, it's a joke!" he snapped.
Musharraf said he knew he, too, was under threat.
"I have lived like this over the years," he said, adding, "I cannot say that I am very secure. I know how to protect myself."
"We have to face things boldly. We have to defeat those who are causing this threat," he said.
Terrorist can't take over our nukes, asserts Musharraf
Islamabad: There is no possibility of extremists coming to power in Pakistan or of terrorists taking over the country's nuclear arsenal, President Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday.
Interacting with the international media during a programme for state-run PTV, Musharraf dismissed international concerns about the safety of the country's strategic assets due to the heightened political uncertainty and the crisis caused by the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
"There is no possibility of extremists coming into government in Pakistan and therefore taking over the (nuclear) assets...through the political or the democratic system," he said.
There is also no threat to the nuclear arsenal "from terrorists and extremists", he said.
"We guard our strategic and nuclear assets very zealously. We cannot accept any kind of threat to them at all," Musharraf said, adding there is "excellent custodial control" over the atomic arsenal that is "as good as any other nuclear country".
Musharraf also rejected the perception that al-Qaeda is growing stronger in Pakistan and had extended its influence from the restive north-western tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to parts of the North West Frontier Province and other regions.
The Pakistani President, however, admitted that, "Taliban is the main concern that we need to tackle more effectively".
Nineteen suicide bombings carried out in the last three months of 2007 had been traced to Pakistani Taliban commanders Baitullah Mehsud from South Waziristan and Maulana Fazlullah of Swat valley in the NWFP.
He also ruled out suggestions that it would be easy for the security forces to trace and apprehend Mehsud as they were already intercepting his communications and phone conversations.
"Getting him means battling thousands of people (from his) Mehsud tribe and it means collateral damage," he said, adding the security forces had to act cautiously.
Al-Qaeda provided the "masterminds, resource suppliers, financiers and facilitators" while the actual attacks are carried out by the Taliban, Musharraf said.
Musharraf has blamed Mehsud for masterminding the suicide attack on Benazir, but her Pakistan People's Party and the Taliban commander himself have denied involvement in her assassination
Interacting with the international media during a programme for state-run PTV, Musharraf dismissed international concerns about the safety of the country's strategic assets due to the heightened political uncertainty and the crisis caused by the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
"There is no possibility of extremists coming into government in Pakistan and therefore taking over the (nuclear) assets...through the political or the democratic system," he said.
There is also no threat to the nuclear arsenal "from terrorists and extremists", he said.
"We guard our strategic and nuclear assets very zealously. We cannot accept any kind of threat to them at all," Musharraf said, adding there is "excellent custodial control" over the atomic arsenal that is "as good as any other nuclear country".
Musharraf also rejected the perception that al-Qaeda is growing stronger in Pakistan and had extended its influence from the restive north-western tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to parts of the North West Frontier Province and other regions.
The Pakistani President, however, admitted that, "Taliban is the main concern that we need to tackle more effectively".
Nineteen suicide bombings carried out in the last three months of 2007 had been traced to Pakistani Taliban commanders Baitullah Mehsud from South Waziristan and Maulana Fazlullah of Swat valley in the NWFP.
He also ruled out suggestions that it would be easy for the security forces to trace and apprehend Mehsud as they were already intercepting his communications and phone conversations.
"Getting him means battling thousands of people (from his) Mehsud tribe and it means collateral damage," he said, adding the security forces had to act cautiously.
Al-Qaeda provided the "masterminds, resource suppliers, financiers and facilitators" while the actual attacks are carried out by the Taliban, Musharraf said.
Musharraf has blamed Mehsud for masterminding the suicide attack on Benazir, but her Pakistan People's Party and the Taliban commander himself have denied involvement in her assassination
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