Toxicology: non-metallic poisons: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: non-metallic poisons

Sample item

A man who swallowed a rodenticide paste vomits material that smells of garlic and appears luminous in the dark. Which poison is likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Yellow (white) phosphorus

Yellow phosphorus causes garlic-smelling breath and vomit, which may be luminous (phosphorescent) in the dark. It is a hepatotoxin that leads to acute liver failure and hypoglycaemia. Aluminium phosphide also releases phosphine with a garlic or fishy smell, but only yellow phosphorus produces luminous vomit; arsenic causes a rice-water diarrhoea.

Option by option

  • A. Aluminium phosphide

    Aluminium phosphide releases phosphine, which smells of garlic or rotting fish, but the vomit is not luminous; it causes refractory cardiogenic shock.

  • B. Strychnine

    Strychnine causes convulsions with consciousness preserved and no luminous vomit.

  • C. Arsenic trioxide

    Arsenic causes severe gastroenteritis and later Mees' lines, but the vomit is not luminous.

  • D. Yellow (white) phosphorus (correct)

    Correct. Garlic odour with luminous vomit is characteristic of yellow phosphorus.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Yellow (white) phosphorus. Yellow phosphorus causes garlic-smelling breath and vomit, which may be luminous (phosphorescent) in the dark.

Why is "Aluminium phosphide" not the answer?

Aluminium phosphide releases phosphine, which smells of garlic or rotting fish, but the vomit is not luminous; it causes refractory cardiogenic shock.

Why is "Strychnine" not the answer?

Strychnine causes convulsions with consciousness preserved and no luminous vomit.

Why is "Arsenic trioxide" not the answer?

Arsenic causes severe gastroenteritis and later Mees' lines, but the vomit is not luminous.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: non-metallic poisons in Forensic Medicine. It is a hepatotoxin that leads to acute liver failure and hypoglycaemia. Aluminium phosphide also releases phosphine with a garlic or fishy smell, but only yellow phosphorus produces luminous vomit; arsenic causes a rice-water diarrhoea.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Toxicology: non-metallic poisons?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.