Veterolegal Cases | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Summary of VETEROLEGAL CASES

• Animals or Birds Injured or Killed: Animals or birds may sustain injuries or be killed due to various reasons, including animosity. Injuries can result from blunt or sharp instruments, while death can occur from instruments or poisoning.
• Causes of Death: The cause of death from wounds can be direct, such as due to hemorrhage, internal organ injuries, or shock. Indirect causes may include septicemia, necrosis of internal organs, or infectious diseases.
• Types of Wounds: Wounds can be categorized as incised wounds, lacerated wounds, punctured wounds, gunshot wounds, or contused wounds.
• Referral to Veterinary Surgeon: Animals or carcasses suspected of intentional injury or killing may be referred to a veterinary surgeon by a Magistrate or a Police officer. The veterinary surgeon must conduct examinations, including post-mortem, chemical, toxicological, or histopathological examinations.
• Veterolegal Cases: Cases involving suspected intentional harm to animals are termed as veterolegal cases. The veterinary surgeon issues necessary certificates like wound certificates or post-mortem reports in such cases.
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  • Certificates: A wound certificate for injuries or a post-mortem report for dead animals should be provided by the veterinary surgeon in all veterolegal cases at the request of the police officer or magistrate who sent the animal or carcass for examination.

Wound Certificate

• This certificate contains information about injuries on an animal's body.
• The certificate includes details such as the requestor's information, examination of the animal, identification marks, place, injuries, and the certifier's opinion.
• It also mentions the contributor, address, and owner's name.

Details Included in a Wound Certificate:

• Requestor's Information
• Examination Details
• Identification Marks
• Place Information
• Injury Description
• Opinion of the Certifier
• Contributor Details
• Address Information
• Owner's Name

Post-mortem Certificate

• This certificate typically provides information about the findings of an examination conducted on a deceased animal.
• It may include details on the cause of death, internal and external examinations, and other relevant observations.

Components of a Post-mortem Certificate:

• Cause of Death
• External Examination Findings
• Internal Examination Details
• Additional Observations

It is crucial to accurately document and maintain such certificates to ensure proper record-keeping and legal compliance in various situations.

Post-Mortem Examination Procedures

• Identification Information:
  • Name, designation, and details of the sender
  • Species, sex, color, and identification marks of the animal
  • Information about the constable or messenger through whom the animal was received
• Post-Mortem Report:
  • Date of examination, species, identification marks, and general condition of the carcass
  • Details of injuries, their nature, position, and measurements
  • Assessment of injuries as permanent or treatable
• External Examination:
  • Details like date, sex, probable time since death, address, age, etc.
• Internal Examination:
  • Inspection of various systems like respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, genital, etc.
• Opinion and Conclusion:
  • Statement regarding the cause and manner of death

Rules for Post-Mortem Examination

• Authorization and Preparation:
  • Examination should be authorized by the police or district magistrate
  • Thorough examination based on a written order
  • Examination to be conducted in daylight
• Procedure and Documentation:
  • Complete examination details to be noted in the report
  • Details should match between notes and the report sent to court
  • No unauthorized individuals during the examination
• Material Collection for Investigations:
  • Collection of samples for chemical, toxicological, and histopathological analysis
  • Materials like urine, blood, and organs to be sent for examination

Toxicological Examination and Specimen Collection

Suspected Cases of Poisoning and Specimens for Chemical Analysis

• Ar senic (Acute)
• Arsenic (Chronic)
• Alkaloids
• Copper
• Cyanide
• Insecticides - Chlorinated
• Insecticides - Organophosphate
• Lead (Acute)
• Lead (Chronic)
• Mercury
• Nitrate and Nitrite
• Phosphorus
• Phenols-cresols
• Rodenticides
• Strychnine
• Sodium chloride

Required Specimens in Order of Importance

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Stomach contents

Minimum Quantities of Specimens for Toxicological Examination

• Blood - 30 to 50 ml
• Brain - Entire
• Fat - 200 g
• Hair - 5-10 g
• Intestinal contents - 500-1000 g
• Kidneys - One
• Liver
• Stomach contents - All available

Preservation and Submission of Specimens for Examination

• Preservation of viscera and articles for six months if not sent to chemical examiner
• Destruction after permission from the magistrate
• Proper packing and labelling of bottles
• Seal consistency and documentation

Collection and Submission of Specimens for Histopathological Examination

• Role of Histopathological examination in diagnosing the cause of death
• Fixing agents: formaldehyde, alcohol, mercuric chloride, etc.
• Importance of quick tissue preservation
• Usage and preparation of common fixatives like 10% formalin
• Preparation and packaging of specimens for examination