Toxicology: nitrobenzene poisoning: 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.

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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: nitrobenzene poisoning

Sample item

A worker who spilled a shoe-polish solvent on his clothes develops a smell of bitter almonds, headache and chocolate-brown blood with cyanosis that does not improve on oxygen. Which poison?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Nitrobenzene

Nitrobenzene, oil of mirbane, smells of bitter almonds and absorbed through skin causes methaemoglobinaemia with chocolate-brown blood and cyanosis. Cyanide gives bright red venous blood and no cyanosis. Carbon monoxide gives a cherry red colour.

Option by option

  • A. Arsine

    Arsine causes haemolysis with haemoglobinuria and a garlic odour.

  • B. Nitrobenzene (correct)

    Correct. Bitter almond smell with methaemoglobinaemia is characteristic of nitrobenzene.

  • C. Carbon monoxide

    Carbon monoxide gives cherry red blood and no almond odour.

  • D. Hydrogen cyanide

    Cyanide gives bright red venous blood and no true cyanosis.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Nitrobenzene. Nitrobenzene, oil of mirbane, smells of bitter almonds and absorbed through skin causes methaemoglobinaemia with chocolate-brown blood and cyanosis.

Why is "Arsine" not the answer?

Arsine causes haemolysis with haemoglobinuria and a garlic odour.

Why is "Carbon monoxide" not the answer?

Carbon monoxide gives cherry red blood and no almond odour.

Why is "Hydrogen cyanide" not the answer?

Cyanide gives bright red venous blood and no true cyanosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: nitrobenzene poisoning in Forensic Medicine. Cyanide gives bright red venous blood and no cyanosis. Carbon monoxide gives a cherry red colour.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: nitrobenzene poisoning?

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.