ONE OF THE TOXICOLOGIST'S MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS IS THE DETERMINATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE CAUSE, MANNER, AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH OF A VICTIM. ANY TIME DEATH APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY SOME EXOGENOUS SUBSTANCE ENTERING THE BODY, WHETHER IT BE INTENTIONAL POISONING OR NOT, THE TOXICOLOGIST IS INVOLVED. IN ONE CASE, A BLACK PANTHER WAS SHOT BY POLICE, AND POLICE SAID HE FIRED ON THEM. HOWEVER, IT WAS ALLEGED THAT HE WAS HEAVILY SEDATED AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT HAVE RETURNED FIRE. A TOXICOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE HAD BEEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PARTICULAR DRUGS AT THAT TIME. THE TOXICOLOGIST FREQUENTLY MUST DETERMINE WHETHER AN OFFENSE HAS BEEN COMMITTED AT ALL, AND IF SO, WHAT KIND. AN IOWA CASE IS CITED IN WHICH A WOMAN WAS ASSAULTED WITH URINE. THE TOXICOLOGIST HAD TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE STAIN ON HER SKIRT WAS IN FACT URINE AND WHICH SEX IT CAME FROM. TOXICOLOGISTS MAY COOPERATE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCIES IN CASES WHERE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN POISONED BY PESTICIDES -- SOME LAW VIOLATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN THE NEGLIGENT HANDLING OF THE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SUBSTANCE DISCOVERED AT A CRIME SCENE OR FOUND ON A DEFENDANT IS IN FACT WHAT IS ALLEGED TO BE, SUCH AS ILLEGAL DRUGS (E.G., HEROIN, A BARBITURATE, OR MARIJUANA). THE INVESTIGATION OF INTENTIONAL POISONINGS IS ACTUALLY A MINOR PART OF THE TOXICOLOGIST'S JOB. (VDA)