PREFACE

The present edition of Forensic Medicine, Toxicology, and Public Health has been issued in two volumes; the first, on Public Health, written by Professor Hope, has been already published separately. Hitherto the subjects have been dealt with in a single volume under the title of Husband‘s Forensic Medicine, but as they are now being taught by different lecturers and in separate classes in most of the medical schools, it has been thought advisable to issue the work in two parts. This volume on Forensic Medicine and Toxicology has been revised throughout, and certain alterations and additions have been made, whilst at the same time the view that the work is intended for students and junior practitioners has not been lost sight of.

The author expresses his indebtedness to Dr. M‘Fall, Demonstrator of Toxicology in the University of Liverpool, for his assistance in revising the section on “Toxicology,” and also to the publishers for the compilation of the index.

Apart from the general bibliography mentioned in the text, the works of Taylor and Stevenson, Dickson, Mann, Glaister, Petersen and Haynes, have been consulted.

A plate, showing the centre of ossification in the lower epiphysis of the femur in a full time fœtus, has been introduced at the last moment, and will be found opposite page 64. References to the subject may also be found on pages 33 and 174.

CONTENTS

SECTION I

FORENSIC MEDICINE

CHAP. PAGE

Introduction 1

I. Legal Criminal Procedure 2

II. Medical Evidence Generally, Identity 11

III. Modes of Dying, Sudden Death, Signs of Death 38

IV. Post-mortem Examinations and Exhumations,

Instructions of the Crown Office in Scotland 56

V. Assaults, Homicide, and Wounds 68

VI. Blood Stains, Spectra, and Biological Tests 89

VII. Burns and Scalds, Contusions and Bruises 110

VIII. Suffocation, Hanging, Strangling, and Throttling 118

IX. Drowning 127

X. Death from Starvation, Cold and Heat,

Lightning and Electricity 132

XI. Offences against Chastity 140

XII. Pregnancy and Delivery 150

XIII. Fœticide, or Criminal Abortion 159

XIV. Infanticide, Live Birth, Cause of Death to the Fœtus 165

XV. Inheritance, Legitimacy, Impotence and Sterility,

Survivorship, Malpraxis and Neglect of Duty, Feigned

Diseases, Exemption from Public Duties, Wills 184

XVI. Mental unsoundness, General Symptoms of Insanity,

Mania, Melancholia, Dementia, Restraint of the Insane,

Forms of Medical Certificates, Testamentary Capacity 192

SECTION II

TOXICOLOGY

I. Definition of a Poison, Sale of Poisons, Classification

of Poisons, Action of Poisons, General Evidence

of Poisoning, General Treatment in Cases of Poisoning,

General Methods of Examination for Poison 227

II. Division 1: Chemical—Corrosive Poisons 246

III. Division 2: Vital—Metalloid Irritants 267

IV. Metallic Irritants 274

V. Vegetable and Animal Irritants 317

VI. Food Poisoning (Bromatotoxismus 328

VII. Vegetable Alkaloids 335

VIII. Narcotic Poisons 343

IX. Deliriant Poisons 349

X. Inebriant Poisons 354

XI. Sedative Poisons 364

XII. Cerebral Poisons 377

XIII. Neural Poisons 385

XIV. Excitomotory Poisons 388

XV. Irrespirable Gases 397

INDEX 405

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

SECTION I

FORENSIC MEDICINE

Plate showing Centre of Ossification in the Lower Epiphysi of PAGE

Femur in full time Fœtus To face 64

FIG.

1. Finger Prints 24

2. Finger Prints 25

3. Photo-micrograph of transverse section of Normal Hair Follicle 27

4. Photo-micrograph of Wool Fibres 90

5. Photo-micrograph of Flax Fibres 91

6. Photo-micrograph of Silk Fibres 92

7. Photo-micrograph of Cotton Fibres 93

8. Measurement of Blood Corpuscles (human) 97

9. Measurement of Blood Corpuscles (sheep) 97

10. Photo-micrograph of Red Blood Corpuscles from Domestic Fowl 99

11. Photo-micrograph of Blood Corpuscles of Fish 99

12. Photo-micrograph of Blood Corpuscles from a Dried Stain of the Blood of a Cod-fish 100

13. Photo-micrograph of a Frog‘s Blood showing oval nucleated Red Corpuscles 101

14. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Hæmin 102

15. Blood Spectra 104

16. Pulse Tracings before and after Execution

17.

18. opposite 121

19. Hymen of Child of Four Years—Annular Type 144

20. Virgin Hymen, with Central Slit 144

21. Photo-micrograph of Human Spermatozoa 147

22. Deflorated Hymen, after Parturition, in Adult Woman 149

23. Abortion at Fourth Week 159

24. Abortion between Sixth and Eighth Week 160

25. Abortion at Tenth Week 160

26. Photo-micrograph of Human Milk 177

27. Photo-micrograph of Starch Granules 179

SECTION II

TOXICOLOGY

28. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Oxalic Acid 258

29. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Oxalic Acid 259

30. Photo-micrograph of Sublimate of Arsenious Acid obtained by Reinsch‘s Process 284

31. Dowzard‘s Apparatus for Gutzeit‘s Test for Arsenic 285

32. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Tartarated Antimony 292

33. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Tartarated Antimony 293

34. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Corrosive Sublimate 298

35. Photo-micrograph of Globules of Mercury obtained by Reinsch‘s Process 303

36. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Hydrochloride of Morphine 339

37. Photo-micrograph of Meconic Acid crystallised from Aqueous Solution 340

38. Photo-micrograph of Meconic Acid crystallised from an Alcoholic Solution 340

39. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Cyanide of Silver obtained by the Vapour Test 372

40. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Strychnine Sulphate from an Aqueous Solution 389

41. Photo-micrograph of Crystal of Strychnine Sulphate from Aqueous Solution 389

42. Photo-micrograph of Strychnine Sulphate, Film Preparation from Chloroform Solution 391

43. Photo-micrograph of Chromate of Strychnine 391

44. Photo-micrograph of Sulphocyanate of Strychnine 392

45. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Brucine Sulphate 395

46. Photo-micrograph of Crystals of Brucine Sulphate 395

FORENSIC MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY

SECTION I

FORENSIC MEDICINE