Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology PDF

Summary

This book, published in 1884, is a textbook of medical jurisprudence and toxicology. It covers important aspects of legal medicine, and forensic medicine, and intends to be a valuable resource for students in both medicine and law. The author emphasizes core principles for the student and considers important poisons such as arsenic and strychnine in the context of possible criminal investigations.

Full Transcript

ME D I C AL U RI SP RU DEN CE AN D T O X I C O LO G Y. BY J O H N J. REE SE ,...

ME D I C AL U RI SP RU DEN CE AN D T O X I C O LO G Y. BY J O H N J. REE SE , MD.. , P RO ESS OR F OF ' ME R I S P R D E N C E AND TO I C O L OG I N T H E N I E R S I T O E D I C AL JU U X Y U V Y Y P E N N S YL I C E P R ES I D E NT AN I A ; V - T H E E D I C A L R I S R D E N C E S O C I ET OF M JU P U Y OF P H I L AD E LP H I A P H S I C I AN ; Y S T O SE P H S H O S I TA L E E R T o. J ’ P ; M MB E T H E C O LL E G E O P H S I C I AN S OF Y P H I L AD E LP H I A OF ; C ORR ES POND I NG E E R T H E W M MB OF N E OR E D I C O L E GA L S O C I E T Y " M - Y. P H I LA D E LP H I A P. B LA " I S T O N , S ON C O , 101 2 WAL N U T S T R E E T , 188 4 E rd nt e e , ac co rdi t A t f C gr ng o c o on e ss, in t he y r ea 1 884, by P B LA " I S T O N S ON. , 8: C O. , in the Offi c e o f t h Libr ri e f C a gr an o on e ss , at V hi \ as gt on D n ,. C. 0 0 t o. 0 0 0 0 0 Q 0 8 736 P R E FA C Thi s T e x t b o ok has b e e n wri tt e n m o re p a rt i cu l a rly t o - me e t t he wa nt s o f s t u d e nt s o f Le ga l Me dici ne T he a u t h o r. is a w a r e t h a t t he fi e l d has a lr e a dy b e e n occupi e d by a bl e a n d p o pul a r t r e a t i s e s o n m e dic a l j u ri s p r ud e n c e w e ll k n ow n , t o t he profe s s i o ns o f m e dici n e a n d la w ; b u t a n e xp e r i e n c e o f o v e r t w e nt y y e a r s a s a public t e a ch e r o f t hi s b r a n ch o f , s ci e n c e , ha s c o nvi n c e d him t h a t s t u d e nt s in b o t h t h e s e pr o fe s s i o ns wh o d e s i r e t o a cqui r e a k n o wl e dg e o f m e di c a l , j u r i s pru d e n c e , a r e t o o o ft e n d e t e rr e d fr o m t h e i r pu rp o s e by b e i n g c o n fr o nt e d by t he p o n d e r o u s w o rk s o f r e c o g n i z e d ma s t e r s e x t e n di n g t o t hr e e a n d e v e n s ix l a r g e o c t a v o , , v o l u me s. To a v o id t he a b o v e o bj e c t i o n t he a u t h o r o f t he pr e s e n t , w o rk ha s e nd e a vor e d t o c o n d e n s e in a h a n dy v o l u m e a ll t he es s e nt ia ls o f t he s ci e n c e a n d t o pr e s e n t t he v a ri o u s , t opic s in a S i m pl e a n d fa m ili a r s t yl e givi n g gr e a t e r pr o m i , n e nc e , o f c o ur s e t o t h o s e o f t he gr e at e s t pra c t i ca l im , , p o r ta n c e. T he s ubj e c t o f T O X I C O L O GY occ upi e s a s w a s pr o p e r a , , co ns id e rabl e S p a c e a nd ha s b e e n c a r e fully pr e p a re d ; s p e ci a l , a t t e nt i o n b e i n g b e s t o w e d up o n t he m o s t i m p o r t a nt p o i s o n s s u c h a s A r s e n ic S t rych n i n , e O pi u m P ru s s i c A cid e t c , , ,. T he ch ap t e r o n I N S A N I T Y is a s ful l a s t he s i z e o f t he v o l u m e w o uld j u s t ify a n d will b e fo u nd it is h o p e d t o , , , iv P RE FA CE. c o nta i n a ll t he e s s e nt i a l m e dic o l e ga l p o i nt s p e rt a i n i ng t o - t hi s s ubj e c t. T he a u t h o r has n o t h e s i t a t e d t o a v a il hi m s e lf fr e e ly o f t he m a t e ri a l s s o a bu n d a n t ly pr e s e n t e d in t he e l abo ra t e a n d Cl as s ic w o rk s o f C a s p e r Ta ylor B e ck W h a rt o n a n d S t ill e , , , , Ti dy G u y Ta rdi e u a n d o t h e r s ; a lwa y s d e s irin g t o giv e , , , du e cr e di t t o t he a u t h ori t y qu o t e d a n d u s u a lly doi n g s o a t , t he t i m e a n d he wo ul d e m b ra c e t hi s opp o rt u n i t y t o e xpr e s s his o blig a t i o n s t o t h e s e a u t hori t i e s H e is s i n c e r e ly ‘. d e s ir o u s t o e n cou ra ge a n i n cr e a s i ng i nt e r e s t in t he s t ud e nt s of b o t h m e dici ne a n d law fo r t h a t m o s t i m p o rt a nt b u t t o o , m uch n e gl e c t e d s ubj e c t — F o r e ns ic Me dici n e ; a n d he w o ul d , i n dulg e t he hOp e t h at t he pr e s e nt t r e a t i s e in it s u np r e , t e nt io u s s i z e a n d s ty l e m a y a id in s o d o i n g ,. S e p t ember , 1 884. T ABLE OF CON T EN T S. CH AP T E R I. I tr d n ti o uc on. P AG E D e fi nit io n — I m p o rt a n c e d t to S tu en s of Me di c i ne — Ord e r o f a nd L a wn Pr di g i ocee n n M di l g l C a e co- e a as e. — T he C o ro n e r s I nq u e st —T he ’ C ri m i l C na ou rt — M di l E vid. e ca en ce. Me di c a l E x p e rt s — D yi n g D l r ti ec a a ons. HAP T E R I I C. P h m d S ig f D th e no ena a n ns o ea. S TI E C N I O — M l. l r d S m t o e cu a i D t h — T h an I mm di t C o f a c ea. e e a e aus e o D t h t b f d i i t h r t h H rt L g ea o e ou n n B r i — P t m rt m e e e ea , un s or a n. os - o e E vid f t e nc e s h — oT h S ig f e seD t h — C ti e “ f R p ir t i ns o ea. " e ss a on o es a on d C an ir l t i cu a — C h g i on t h E y — P ll r f th B dy an es n e es. a o o e o. S TI EC N IOI — S ig.f D t h t i ns d — oL f A i ea m l H t — con P t nu e os s o n a ea os m rt m C l ri i t y — Rig r M rt i o e a o c P t m rt m Lividi t y S ggill t i. o o s. - os - o e , or u a on S T I E C N IOI I — S ig f. D t h t i ns d — P otr f t i — ea E xt r l d c on nu e. u e ac on. e na an I t r l S ig — Adi p r — M mmifi t i — H w l g i n e na ns. oc e e. th u ca on. o on s nc e e D th ? ea C H AP T E R I I I. M di l g l I v t ig t i e co- e — T h P t m rt m a n es a ons. e os - o e. R p ibili t y i v lv d — A r y d M t h d es o ns n o e ry — E x mi t i c cu a c an e o n e c essa a na on f th o rr di g — E xt r 1 x m i t i f th B d y — I t r l e su ou n n s. e na e a na on o e o n e na ex mi t i a na — D t il f th E x mi t i — M on. e a s o r m t nd W igh t e a na on. e a su e en s a e s. N ot e s. HAP T E R I V C. P r m pti f D th d f S rviv r hi p esu on o ea an o u o s. C ase s i v lvi g Pr m pt i f D t h d f S rviv r hi p —Fr h L w n o n e su on o ea an o u o s. e nc a of S rviv r hi p — Pr b bili t i u o s ff rd d by Ag S. d M d f D th o a es a o e e, ex , an o e o ea. C HAP T E R V. P r l I d t ity e s ona en. S ECTI N I I mp rt t M di l g l b ri g —I I d t i fi t i O. - o an f th e co - e a ea n s. en ca on o e Livi g — P r l A pp r — P li r b dily m rk —R m rk bl n e so n a ea a nce. e cu a o a s. e a a e C ase s. T A BL E OF C O N TE N TS. P AG E S ECTI N I I —I I I d ti fi t i f th D d — M t il t d R m i —I d ti O.. en ca on o e ea u a e e a ns en fi ti ca by m on f th S k l t t Ag S ean s d S r —R l f o e e e on , as o e, e x , an t at u e. u es o Pr p rt i — Fr t r D f rm it i o o on d C ll —A g ac u f B — E e s, e o e s, an a us e o on e s x m i ti a na f H ir d Fibr on o a s an es. C HAP T E R V I. T h C P r d i g Vi l t D th e au s e s o uc n o en ea. S TI N I D t h fr m w d —D fi i t i f “f d —D g r f E C O. - ea o ou n s e n on o a ou n an e o. E x mi ti a f t h B d y — Ab na on f x t r l m rk f vi l o e o s e nc e o e e na a s o o e nc e. \V d m d ou n b f r d ft r d t h — H m rrh g E hym s a e e o e an a e ea. e o a e. - cc os e s. Cl ifi t i as s — H mi id l S i id l ca ond A id t l o c a , u c a an cc en a S TI N I I — G h t I V d — D ifi fr m th r w d — D fl t i E C O. u ns o ou n s. ’ er o o e ou n s e ec on f th B ll — \V o e d m d by S h t \V ddi g a. d P wd r —\V oun d f s a e o , a n an o e. ou n s o th H e d N k S p i C h t d Abd m ea , ec , ne , es an o en. C H AP T E R V I I. E x mi ti f Bl dSt i a na on o oo a ns. I mp rt o f t h ir id t ifi ti an c e o — T hr m t h d f id t i fyi g — T h e en ca on ee e o s o en n I. e C h mi l T t —e T h Mi r ca p i T t — 3 T h S p tr es s. 2 pi T t. e c os c o c es. e ec os c o c es — Bl d C y t l oo r s a s. C H AP T E R V I I I. B r d S ld u n s an ca s. D fi i iO — C l e n t ifi ti n — S ym p t m — C. aS S f D th —P t m r m ca on. o s. au se o ea. os - o te app r —B r e a an c e s m d b f r d ft r d t h — A id t l S i id l. u ns a e e o e an a e ea. cc en a , u c a an d H m i id l B r o —S p t cC mb t i a u ns o n a n e ou s o us on. C HAP T E R I X. D h fr m D i ff r t F rm f A p hy x i eat o e en o s o s a. S EC — O ’ TI N I D th fr m S ff i — A id t l S i id l d H mi id l ea o u o ca t o n cc en a u c a an o c a.. , S fi ti u ' —P t m rt m ig o ca on. os - o e s ns, S E CTI N I I — D t h by S t g l t i — M d f S tr g l ti O. ea E xt r l ran u a on. o es o an u a on. - e na ig — I t r l l i — A id t l S i id l d H mi id l S g s ns. n e na e s on s. cc en a , u c a an o c a t ra n u l ti — M rk f th C rd a on a o e o , C. S EC TI N I I I —O D t h by H gi g —. f D t h — P t m rt m pp r ea an n. au se o ea. os o e a ea anc es— C rd m k — G r lly i id l o ar s en e a su c a h Ti m r q ir d.. , S E CTI N I V — O D t h by D r w i g. f D t — ea o n n. o ea. e e u e. S ig f D thns x t r l d i t r l — A id t l S i id l d H mi o ea , e e na an n e na. cc en a , u c a an o Cid l D r w i g a o n n , C HA P T E R X D t h b y Ligh t i g ea n n. M di l g l r l i e co - e—M d af D t h — P t m rt m i g e a t ons o e o ea. os - o e s ns , T AB L E OF C O N TE N TS. v ii P AG E H AP T E R XI C. D t h fr m H t d C ld ea o ea an o. Di v r e se ff t e f H ec s t p t h o b dy — P t m rt m pp r ea u on e o. os o e a e a a nc e s. f C l d — P t m rt m ig ' E fl t ec s o o os o e s ns , C H AP T E R XI I. D th b y S t r ti ea a va on. A id t l H mi id l cc en a , d S i id l S t rv t i o c — Pr t d d a an f lu c a a a on. e en e cases o vo u n t ry t rv t i a s a — S ympt m a on d P t m rt m S ig — M di 1 g l r l o s , an os - o e ns. e c o- e a e a ti on s , C H AP T E R X I I I. D t h fr m P i i g — T x i l gy ea o o s on n o co o. S EC TI N I O — D fi it. i f P ei — nE fi t —Pr f f A b rp t i on o a o s on. ' ec s. oo s o so on. S b qu se t di p i t i u en f th P i s — E li mi t i — C os on o f D th e o so n. na on. au s e o ea. C ir m t cu m di fyi g t h ir s an c e s ti —A t g i m f P i o n e ac on. n a on s o o so n s , S EC TI I I — E vid ON. f P i i g — E vid e nc e s o fr m S y m p t m — o so n n I. enc e s o o s 2. Fr m p t m rt m l i — 3 C h mi l A ly i —P t m rt m I mbi o os - o e e s o ns. e ca na s s. os - o e bit i ouf P i o —R l i p rf rm i g t xi l gi l o s o ns u es ly i —4 n e o n a o co o ca a na s s. Phy i l gi l x p ri m t — 5 C ir m t ti l E vid s o o ca e e — M di en s. lgl. cu s an a e nc e. e co - e a l i —C l ifi ti c o n c us on s. a ss ca on , C HA P T E R XI V. P i i g b y t h M i r l A id o s on n e ne a c s. C rt i e a n mm co ym pt m P t m rt m pp r on s o— Tr tm t s. os - o e a ea an ce s ea en. C h mi le caly i — T xi l gi l x mi t i f th di ff r t A id a na s s o co o ca e a na on or e e en c s, C H A P T E R XV. P i i g b y t h A lk li o s on n d t h ir S l t e a es an e a s. S E C TI N I —P t O. S d d A mm o a ss a , i — S i mil ri ty f ff t — S ymp o a, an on a. a o e ec s t m —F t l D o s — T r t m t —P t m rt m pp r a a ose. — C h mi l ea en. os - o e a e a an c e s e ca a na ly i s s. S EC TI N I I — P i i g by th Alk li O. o s on n d E rt hy S l t —N i tr t f e a ne an a a s. a e o P t i m B it rtr t f P t i m — S l ph t f P t i m — Al m o ass u. - a a e o o ass u. u a e o o as s u. u. C hl ri t d P t o na e i m d S di m — S l t f B ri m o as s u an o u. a s o a u C H AP T E R XV I. I r it t P i g R m t S p i fi P r p rt i r an s os s es s n e o e ec c o e es. S ECT I N I — P i i g by Ph p h r —S y mpt m —F t l D — Tr t O. o s on n os o us o s. a a os e ea m t — M rbid en. pp r o —D i g i — C h mi l a e a ancesly i A m r a n os s. e ca a na s s. o ph o nsPh p h r os o us. SEC T O I N I I —P i i g by I di Br m i. o so n n d C hl ri o ne , o ne , a n o ne. T AB LE OF C O NT E N T S. P AGE HAP T E R X V I I C. P i i g by A r i o son n s en c. M t lli e a Ar i — Ar i c sen cA id — Pr p ti —. S ym pt m s e n ou s C hr i c. o er es. o s. on c P i i g F t l D — T r t m t —P t m rt m ig —C h mi l o s on n. a a os e. ea en. os - o e s ns e ca a na ly i —T xi l gi l x mi t i — Oth r Pr p r t i s s. o co o ca f Ar e i a na on. e e a a ons o sen c. C HAP T E R X V I I I. P i i g by A t i m y ( T r t r E m t i ) o s on n n on a a e c. P p rt i f T rt r E m t i — S y mpt m — F t l D — P t m rt m p ro e es o a a e c. o s. a a os e. os - o e a p —Sl w P i e ara n c e s i g — C ho m i l ly i — T x i l gi l o s on n mi e ca a na s s o co o ca e xa na ti on. C HAP T E R XI X. P i i g b y M r ry ( C r i S bli m t ) o s on n e cu o ros ve u a e. C rr iv o os S bli m t — Pr p rt i e u S y m p t m — P t m rt m pp r a e. o e es. - o s. os - o e a e a a nc es. F t l D — A tid t — C h mi l ly i — T xi l gi l x mi a a o se. n o es. e ca ana s s o co o ca e a na ti on— S liv t i. a a on. C H AP T E R XX. P i i g by L d o s on n ea. Fr q y f C hr i P i i g — A t t f L d S ympt m Tr t e u e nc o on c o s on n ce a e o ea. - o s. - ea m t en — P t m rt m pp r. os - — o P i t r C li — L d P l y —T xi e ’ a e a anc e s. a n e s o c. ea a s. o co ol gi l x m i ti ca e a na on. C H AP T E R XXI. P i i g b y C pp r o s on n o e. A id t l P i i g— S l t f C p p r — F t l D — Tr t m t — M rbid cc en a o son n a s o o e. a a os e. ea en. o pp r —C h mi l ly i T xi l gi l x mi t i ’ a e a an c e s e ca ana s s - o co o ca e a na on. C H AP T E R X X I I. P i i g by Z i B i m t h T i I r o s on n d C hr m i m nc , s u , n, on a n o u. SEC TI N I — P i i g by Z i O. o son n nc. SE C TI N I I — P i i g by B i m t h O. o son n s u. SEC TI N I I I —P i i g by T i I r O. o son n d C hr m i m n, on a n o u. C H AP T E R X X I I I. V g t bl d A i m l I rri t et e a e an n a an s. SEC TI NO I — P i i.g by O x li A o so n n i d — S r f t h A id i N t r a c c ou ces o e c n a u e. y S m t mp — F o t l D s — T r t ma a t — M rbid pp ose r. — C h mi l ea en. o a e a an c e s e ca a na ly i —T xi l gi l x mi ti —B i x l t f P t i m s s o co o ca e a na on. no a a e o o ass u. SE C TI N I I — P i i g by C rb li A id O. o s on n a o c c. T A BL E OF ‘ C O NT E N TS. P AG E SEC TI N I I I —P i i g by C r t Oil E l t ri m C t r Oil B O. o s on n o on , a e u , as o e an s , C l hi m o c d S vi cu an a n. SEC TI N O I V — P i i g. by t h H ll b r — V r tri Y l l w j mi o so n n e e e o es. e a a. - e o e s sa ne —P i o s on ou sM hr m us oo s. C H AP T E R X X I V. A i m l I rri t t n a an s. P i i g by C t h rid — P i o s on n A im l F d —S g P i an a es. o so n o u s n a oo. a u sa e o s on. Tri hi i — C h c n os s Pi. Pi Fi h — P tr e es e t F d —P i o son. - o s o n ou s s. u esc en oo. o s one d Fl h es. C HAP T E R XXV. C l II N r ti P i ass. eu o c o s on s. S E C TI N I — N r t i —P i i g by Op i m — N t r f Op i m — P i O. a co cs. o s on n u. a u e o u. o s ono u s S y m p t m — F t l P ri d d D o — T r t m t — M rp hi s a a e o an os e. ea en. o a. Pr p rt i — T t — M i A id — T t —T xi l gi l x mi t i o e es. es s. e con c c. es s. o co o ca e a na on. S EC TI N OI I — P i i g.by Al h l — A t Al o s on n h li m — S y mp t m co o. cu e co o s. o s. P t m rt m l i —C h mi l ly i — D t t i i th T i os - o e e s on s e ca a na s s e ec on n e ss u e s. C H AP T E R X X V I. A th ti 2. n ae s e cs. C P i i g by E t h r C hl r f rm d C hl r l Hydr t o so n n e , o o o , an o a a e. C H AP T E R X X V I I. S pi l N r t i —P i i g b y N V m i —S t ry h i na eu o cs. o s on n ux o ca. c n a. N ux V mi — S try h i —E e t — F t l D - o ca. T r t m t —P t—m c n a. c s. a a os e. - ea en. os or t m l i e — Di g i e s o ns C h mi l. ly i I t rf r a n os s Phy i. e ca ana s s. n e e e nce s. s o l gi l T t — T x i l gi l x mi t i o ca es. o co o ca e a na on. C HAP T E R X X V I I I. C r br p i l N r t i — ( ) D liri t e e o -s na eu o cs. I e an s. S E C T O I N I —P i i g by B ll d. S y m p t m — A tr p i o so n n F tlD e a o nn a. o s. o a. - a a o se. —T r t m t — ea P t m rt m pp r en. — C h mi los - ly i — T xio e a e a anc e s e ca an a s s. o co l gi l x mi ti o ca e a na on. SEC TI N I I P i i g by S tr m i m Hy y m O. - o so n n dS l m a on u , os c a u s an o a nu. C HAP T E R X X I X. D pr t 2. e es s an s. SE C TI N I —P i i g by T b O. d L b li — E ff t o so n n f T b o acco an o e a. ec s o o acco. P tm t m l i os - or e N i ti Pr p rt i C h mi l r e s o ns. ti co na. o e es. e ca ea c on s. T xi l gi l x mi t i o co o —L b li ca e a na on. o e a. X T AB L E OF CO N T E NT S. S EC TI N I I — P i i g by H ml k — C i —S y mp t m — P t m rt m O. o so n n e oc on a. o s. os - o e a pp r C ea ance s i — C h mi l r ti — T xi l gi l x mi ti. - on a. e ca eac o ns. o co o ca e a na on —Ot h r p i H ml k e o s onou s e oc s. SEC TI N I I I — P i i g by A i t d C l b r B O. Pr p rt i f th o so n n co n e an a a a ean. - o e es o e Pl t — E fi t — P t m rt m pp r an. ' ec S — A iti — F t l D. os o e a e a anc es. con ne. a a o se. Tr t m t — C h mi l ea ly i — T xi l gi l x mi ti — C l b r en e ca a na s s o co o ca e a na on a a a B — E ri e an. se ne. C H AP T E R XXX. ( ) 3 A t h i s en c s. SEC TI N I — P i i g by Hydr y i A i d — N t r l O rr O. o so n n i oc an c c a u a ccu e nc e n V g t bl — P r d OH i l A id —S y mpt m — F t l P ri d 1 e e a es. u e an c na c s. o s. a a e o ar D — T r tm t — P t m rt m pp r os e. ea — T t — T xi l gi l en. os - o e a ea anc e s es s. o co o ca e x mi ti —C y id f P t i m Oil f B i tt r Al m d — C h rry a na on. an e o o as s u. - o e on s e l r l \V t r — N i tr B l au e a e. o- e nz o e. S E CTI N I I —P i i g by D i gi t li —S y m p t m — P t m rt m l i O. o so n n a s. o s. os - o e e s on s. —F t l D a a D i gi t li — C h m i l os e ly i — T xi l gi l mi. - a ne. e ca ana s s o co o ca ex a na it — C on f D. l P m i —P i as e oi g by C l I di e a o e ra s. o so n n oc cu u s n cus. C H AP T E R X X X I. T h A lk l id f P tr f i —P t m i e a o s o u e a c t on. o a ne s. “ D 61 at 5 85 V i hé b ri , P. I rn I n a l A o t on, or oe u c id c D e fi ni ti on — Fre q u e n c y f Ab t i fr m N r l o or on o at u a C a us e s. Fce t u s has b e en d t y d — S ig ff rd d b t es r o e ns a o e v l Fce tu s. —I I e a ns ~ f e d, " - u e fi nit I I I -a n t. - \Va s it b r liv ' o n a e ?1 a Liv e B I rt h 2h; L u n g s —T he H Yl '. T E XT - BOO " ME D I C AL J U R I S P R U D E N C E AN D T O X I C O LO G Y. C HAP TE R I. D F INITI O N — I MPOR T A N C E. S TUD NT S O M DI C IN A ND LAW E T O E F E E. OR D R O PROC DING IN A M DI CO L G AL C AS — H CORO E F E E E - E E T E N R S IN Q U T — H CR I M IN AL CO U R T —M I CAL V ID N C ’ E E S. T E. E D E E E M DI CAL XP R T S — " E Y GE C A A E O D IN D E L R T I N S. ME D IC A L J U R I S P R UD E N C E o r Le ga l o Fo re ns i c M di c i n e , r e , as it is , so me t i m e s d m ay b e d e fi ne d t o b e t he s ci e n c e na m e , which a ppl i e s t he k n o wl e dg e o f Me di c i ne t o t he r e qui r e m e n t s o f La w T o a id in t he di s c o v e ry o f t r u t h wh ich is. , t he g r e a t pu rp o s e o f t he Law e v e ry d e p a rt m e n t o f hu m a n , k no wl e dge s h o uld b e m a d e t o c o nt r ibu t e a nd Me di c i ne , a m o n g t he r e s t W h e n c e r t a i n c a s e s a re p r e s e nt e d fo r l e ga l. d e ci s i o n a ffe c t i n g t he life o r pr o p e rt y o f a n i ndividu a l , , a nd t h e s e c as e s r e qu ir e fo r t h e i r pr o p e r e l u c id a t i o n a n a pp e a l t o m e dic a l k n o wl e dg e t h e y a re t e r m e d " m alic e lega l , - c as e s , a nd t he s ci e n c e o n which t h e y a r e b as e d is n a m e d Me dic a l j u r i s prud e n c e. I t s h o uld r e qui r e n o a rgu m e n t t o S h o w t he i m p o rt a n c e o f t he k n o wl e dg e o f t hi s s ci e n c e t o t he s t ud e n t a n d p ra c t it io n e r o f b o t h t he pr o fe s s i o n s o f m e d i c i n e a nd la w T he. fo r me r c a nn o t e nt ir e ly e va d e it s cl a i m s a l t h o u gh he m ay , 9 10 M E DICA L JUR I S PRU D E NC E. s ee k t o do s o, i c s n e ve ry n at u re o f his pr o fe s s i o n t he , t o g e t h e r wi t h his a s s u m e d public p o s i t i o n as a n a ccr e di t e d phy s ici a n r e n d e rs him l i a bl e a t a ny m o me nt t o b e c o n , fr o nt e d wi t h a cas e i n v o lvi n g t he i nt ric at e qu e s t i o n s o f h o m icid a l s u icid a l o r a c c i d e nt a l d e at h ; of i n fa nt icid e ; , , o f c r i m i na l a b o rt i o n ; o f ra p e ; o f d r o w n i n g a n d o f n u m e r , o u s o t h e r s i m il a r c a s e s a ll o f whi c h wh e n t h e y b e c o m e , , t he s ubj e c t s o f l e g a l i nv e s t ig a t i o n m u s t n e c e s s a r ily d e pe n d , fo r t h e ir p r o p e r e l ucid a t i o n c hi e fly if n o t s o l e ly up o n t he , , , phy s i c i a n w ho ha d pr e vi o u s ly giv e n hiS pr o fe s s i o na l a t ; ' t e n d a n c e in t he c a s e a n d w ho m u s t s ub s e qu e n t ly giv e hi s , e vid e n c e b e fo r e t he c o u rt a n d j u ry H o w i mp o rta n t t h e n. , , t h a t t he pr a c t i t io n e r o f m e di c i n e e v e n t hough he m a y h a v e , n o s pe ci a l l e a n i n g t o w a rd s l e g a l m e dici n e s h o uld b e c o m e , a cqu a i n t e d a t l e a s t wi t h t he g e n e ra l p r i n cipl e s a n d l e a di n g fa c t s o f t h i s s c i e n c e A pr o p e r r e ga rd b o t h fo r his o w n. , pr o fe s s i o na l r e pu ta t i o n a n d t he g e n e ra l i nt e r e s t s o f t he c o m m u n i t y s h o u ld c o n s t ra i n him n o t t o n e gl e c t 5 0 i m p o r t , a n t a n d pr a c t i c a l a b r a n ch o f k n o wl e dg e A n d as r e g a r d s. t he p r o fe s s i o n o f t he la w it is di fficu l t t o u n d e r s t a n d ho w , a c r i m i n a l c a u s e o f a ny ki n d C a n b e s a t i s fa c t o r ily c o n duc t e d wi t h o u t s o m e k n o wl e dg e o f m e di c a l j u ri s prud e nc e i nas , m u ch a s c r i m i na l la w is i n di s s o l ubly c o nn e c t e d wi t h l e ga l m e di c i n e. I t is m u c h t o b e r e gr e tt e d t h a t m a ny o f t he p r e s e nt g e ne ra t i o n o f l awy e r s in t hi s c o u n t ry g ra du a t e in , t h e i r p r o fe s s io n wi t h o u t t he s ligh t e s t k n o wl e dg e o f m e di c a l j u r i s p r u d e n c e I n d e e d s t ra n g e as it m ay a pp e a r it is. , , e n t i r e ly ig n o r e d in s o m e o f o u r la w s c h o o l s whil s t in , o t h e r s a l t h o ugh p r o fe s s e dly t a ugh t it is n o t m a d e o bl ig a , , t o r y up o n t he s t ud e n t a n d t h e r e fo r e is vi rt u a lly di s r e ga rd e d ,. T he c o n s e qu e n c e O f s u ch n e gl e c t m u s t b e e i t h e r t h a t , c r i m i n a l la w is e nt ir e ly a b a n d o n e d by m a ny di s t i ngu i s h e d p r a c t i t i o n e r s c a u s i n g s u c h c a s e s t o fa ll i nt o t he h a n d s o f , R E L AT I O N OF M E DI C IN E T o L AW. 11 i n fe r i o r p e rs o ns w ho a re n o t a l w a y s t he b e s t qu a l ifi e d t o , c o n duc t t h e m ; or e l s e wh e n a r e a lly i mp o rta nt cri m i na l , c a s e is u n d e rt a k e n t he l a wy e r fi n d s h i m s e lf c o m p e ll e d t o , cra m fo r t he o cc a s i o n a n d is s ubj e c t e d t o n o l i t t l e a n no y , a n c e a n d l o s s o f t i m e in pr e p a ri n g fo r t he i m p e n di n g t r i a l , ,. I n t ru t h in s u c h c as e s he is ne c e s s a ri ly o blig e d t o d e p e n d , a l m o s t e x c l u s iv e ly up o n his m e di c a l wi t n e s s e s b o t h as t o t he , ge n e ra l m o d e o f d e v e l o pi n g his c a s e a n d e s p e ci a lly a s t o t he , ma nne r o f qu e s t i o n i n g t he e xp e rt wi t n e s s e s o n e i t h e r s id e. T he s up e rfici a l o b s e rv e r is o ft e n s u rpri s e d a t t he i nt i m a t e r e l at i o n s h ip s ub s i s t i n g b e t w e e n t he t w o gr e a t s ci e n c e s o f m e dici ne a nd la w. A S ha s j u s t b e e n s h o w n n u m e r o u s , c a s e s br o u gh t b e fo re a c o u rt a n d j u ry c a n o n ly b e s e t t l e d by a n a pp e a l t o m e dic a l k n o wl e dg e ; s o m e t i me s it is t o o n e d e p a rt me nt of m e dici n e a n d s o me t i m e s t o a no t h e r ; a n d it , n o t i n fr e qu e n t ly h a pp e n s t h a t s e v e ra l br a n ch e s o f m e dic a l s ci e n c e m a y b e s i m ul t a n e o u s ly c a ll e d i nt o r e qu i s i t i o n in , o rd e r t o a id t he la w in a rrivi n g a t a pr o p e r d e c i s i o n Fo r e x. a m pl e — is t he c as e o n e o f s u s p e c t e d h o m ici d e wh e r e a d e a d , , b o dy has b e e n di s c o ve r e d u n d e r s u s pi ciou s Circu m s t a n c e s ? W ho b u t t he s killful a n a t o m i s t a n d p at h o l o gi s t by a c a r e fully , c o n duc t e d a u t o p s y c a n s h e d t he r e qu i s i t e ligh t up o n it ? I s , it a c as e o f all e g e d r a p e o r cri m i na l a b o r t i o n o r i nfa nt icid e ? , , W ho s o w e l l qu a l i fi e d t o c o n du c t t he i nv e s t igat i o n a s t he w e l l t ra i n e d ob s t e t rici a n ? O r is it a c a s e i nv o lvi n g t he d a rk s u s pici o n o f cri m i na l p o i s o ni n g ? Who s h a l l i mp a rt t he n e c e s s a ry i n fo r m a t i o n up o n which m a h a n g s u s p e nd e d y t he l ife o r d e a t h o f t he a ccu s e d s a v e he who is t h o r o ughly , a c qu a i nt e d wi t h t he m y s t e ri e s o f t o xic o l o gy ? Th u s it m ay h a pp e n t h a t in a m ul t i t ud e o f c a s e s t he w e l l i n s t ruc t e d p rac , , t it io ne r o f m e dici ne wh e n c a ll e d up o n to a c t t he p a rt of t he , l e ga l phy s ici a n may b e o blige d t o b r i n g i nt o r e qu i s i t i o n a ll , t he v a riou s d e p a rt m e nt s o f his s ci e n c e. 12 M E D IC A L J URI S P RU D E N C E. p e r h ap s a s a 71zedze a l w it n es s t h a t me dic o l e ga l ° I t is , , , - k n o wl e dge is o f t he m o s t i m por t a n t s e rvi c e t o t he phy s ici a n. A ft e r he ha s a c c o mpli s h e d t he i n v e s t iga t i o n of t he c a s e b e fo r e him by a c a re fu l ly c o n du c t e d a u t o p s y o r by a cri t ic a l , t o xic o l o gi c a l e x a m i n a t i o n wi t h p e r h a p s t he a id of m icr o s , c o py a n d by o t h e r m e t h o d s o f s ci e nt ific r e s e a r ch t h e r e e t , y , r e m a i ns t he a ll e s s e nt i a l d u t y o f givi n g t he r e s ul t s o f his - i n v e s t iga t i o ns t o t he c o u rt a n d j u ry in t he fo r m o f evidenc e; , a n d t o b e pr e p a r e d t o do t hi s in t he pr o p e r m a n ne r c o ns t i , t u t e s t he chi e f a cqu i r e m e n t o f t he m e dic a l j uri s t. T he C or on er s ’ I n q u es t — T he fir s t p ublic du ty i mp o s e d ’ upo n t he l e ga l phy s ici a n is t o t e s t ify b e fo r e t he C o r o ne r s I n qu e s t I n a ll Civil i z e d c o u nt ri e s a S p e ci a l o ffi c e r n a m e d. , t he c or on er is a pp o i n t e d t o i n v e s t i g a t e t he u n k n o w n or , , u n e xpl a i n e d c a u s e s o f s u dd e n d e a t h wh e n e ve r t hi s o c cur s , u n d e r s u S p iC io u s Ci rcu ms t a n c e s F o r e x a m pl e a d e a d b o dy. , is di s c o v e r e d o n t he highwa y o r in s o m e s e qu e s t e r e d s p o t , wi t h o r wi t h o u t m a r k s o f e x t e r na l vi o l e n c e o r it may h a v e , , b e e n dr a gge d o u t o f t he riv e r ; t he b o dy o f a n e w b o r n - child has b e e n fo u n d in a w e l l o r c e s s p o o l o r di s c o v e r e d , fl oat i ng in t he w a t e r ; a s t ra n g e r is di s cov e r e d in t he m o r n , in g d e a d in b e d a t s o m e h o t e l fa r di s ta n t fr o m his h o m e ; , , , o r a p e r s o n in a pp a r e n t s o u n d h e a l t h s udd e n ly d r o p s d e a d in t he s t r e e t o r in his r o o m , I n a ll t h e s e a n d a na l o. , g o u s c as e s t he law v e ry wi s e ly pr o vid e s t h at a c a r e fu l in , v e s t iga t io n S h a l l b e i n s t i t u t e d s o a s t o a s c e rt a i n wh e t h e r t he , d e a t h Was du e t o n at u ra l c a u s e s o r wh e t h e r it w as t he r e , s u l t o f vi o l e n c e I f the l a tt e r t h e n t he n a t u r e o f t hi s vio. , l e n c e e g wh e t h e r fr o m a w o u n d ( gu ns h o t or o t h e rwi s e ) ,.. , a bl udg e o n a n a x e , h a m m e r o r o t h e r bl u nt w e a p o n ; o r , , wh e t h e r o c c as i o n e d by a fa ll I n t he a b s e n c e o f a ll e x t e r na l. m a rk s o f vi o l e n c e — t h e n m igh t t he d e a t h n o t h a v e b e e n p r o , , ’ T HE C O RO N E R S I N Q UE S T. 13 du c e d by p o i s o n ? I n e a ch o ne o f t h e s e c a s e s t he fa rt h e r , qu e s t i o n m u s t b e s o lv e d —w a s t he d e a t h h o m icid a l s u icid a l , , o r a ccid e n t a l ? ’ T he c o r o ne r s j u ry u s u a lly c o ns i s t s o f s ix m e n ( t he n u m b e r is n o t d e fi n i t e ly fix e d in t hi s c o u nt ry) w ho a re , m o s t ly s e l e c t e d fr o m t he n e ighb o r h o o d wh e r e t he i n qu e s t is h e ld. Th e i r d u t y c o ns i s t s in ( 1 ) vi e wi n g t he b o dy a n d e s t a bli s h i n g it s id e nt i t y 2 ) in h o ldi n g t he i n qu e s t , a nd ( , whi c h is a s o rt o f p e t t y c o u r t wh e r e i n i n qu i ry is m a d e as , t o t he c a u s e o f d e a t h a n d ( in a c a s e o f h o m i c id e ) t o a s c e rt a i n , , if p o s s ibl e t he gui l t y c ulpri t F o r t h i s pu rp o s e wi t ne s s e s ,. , d uly s ubp oen ae d a n d s w o r n a re e x a m i ne d a n d t he m e dic a l , m a n w ho ha s p e rfo r m e d t he p o s t m o rt e m e x a m i na t i o n - ’ wh e t h e r he b e t he co r o n e r s r e c o g n i z e d phy s ici a n o r s o m e ( , o t h e r w ho ha s b e e n s p e c i a lly a pp o i n t e d fo r t hi s pu rp o s e ) n o w m a k e s his d e t a il e d r e p o r t a n d giv e s his o pi n i o n a s t o , t he r e a l c a u s e o f d e a t h. T he j u ry h a vi n g h e a rd t he e vi d e n c e a nd c o ns ul t e d t o g e t h e r bri n g in t h e i r v e rdi c t whi c h , , , is u s u a lly in a cc o rd a n c e wi t h t he r e p o rt o f t he m e di c a l o ffi c e r. I n s o m e c a s e s p a r t icul a rly in c i t i e s W h e r e t he , , c o r o n e r ha s o n e o r m o r e s p e ci a lly a pp o i n t e d phy s ici a n s it , is n o t c o n s id e r e d ne c e s s a ry t h a t t he j u ry s h o u ld p e r s o na lly view t he b o dy b e fo r e h o ldi n g t he i n qu e s t ; it b e i n g r e g a rd e d a s s u ffici e nt t h a t t he b o dy ha s b e e n pr o p e rly I d e n t i fi e d by t he e x a m i n i n g phy s ici a n a n d t he a u t op s y c a r e fu lly m a d e , , a n d t he r e s u l t d uly r e p o rt e d. ’ I t will b e o b s e r v e d t h a t t he s p e ci a l du t y o f t he c o r o n e r s i n qu e s t is t o di s c o v e r t he r e a l c a u s e of dea f/z ; u s u a lly it d o e s n o t fa ll wi t hi n his pr o vi n c e t o di s c o v e r t he p er s on w ho c a u s e d it.N e v e r t h e l e s s it d o e s s o m e t i m e s h app e n t h a t in , t he cou r s e o f t he i nv e s t i g a t i o n s u s pi c i o n m a y s o s t r o n gly , p o i nt t o s o me p a r t icu l a r i n divid u a l as t o wa rra nt t he , c o r o ne r t o c o mm i t him t o pri s o n t o a wa i t fu r t h e r i nv e s t i ga , 14 M E DI C A L j U R I S P R U D E NC E. t i o n T he u s u a l v e r dic t in c a s e s o f vi o l e nt d e a t h ( S h o w n. t o h a v e b e e n n e i t h e r s ui c id a l n o r a ccid e nt a l ) is t h a t o f , m u rd e r o r m a ns l a ugh t e r a g a i n s t s o m e p e r s o n k n o w n o r , , , u n k no w n. A s t he p o s t m o rt e m e x a m i n a t i o n is a n i n s e p a ra bl e p a rt - ’ o f t he c o r o n e r s i n qu i r y a n d in fa c t , c o n s t i t u t e s it s , , m os t i m p o rt a nt fa c t o r it is i n di s p e ns abl e t h at it s h o uld b e p e r , fo r m e d in t he m o s t c a r e ful a nd t h o r o u gh m a nne r ; a nd no o ne is fi t t o u n d e rt a k e it b u t a s kil l e d a na t o m i s t a n d pa t h o l o gi s t T he m e dic a l m a n s h o uld n e v e r p e r m i t hi m s e lf. t o b e h urri e d in t h i s w o rk ; he s h o ul d a ll o w h i m s e l f a m pl e t i m e a n d a lw ay s p e r fo r m t he a u t o p s y by d a yl igh t i f p o s , , s ibl e i n a s m uch a s he m igh t fa il t o di s t i n gu i s h c e r t a i n a l t e r , a t io n s o f c o l o r by a rt ifi c i a l ligh t W h e n it is r e m e m b e re d. t h a t t he m o s t s e ri o u s i s s u e s m ay b e a t s t a k e — e v e n t h o s e o f — li fe a nd d e a t h it wi ll b e a ck n o wl e dg e d t h a t t he u t mo s t c a u t i o n s h o u ld b e e x e rci s e d in c o n du c t i n g t he a u t o p s y. Th e r e m ay b e c as e s i n v o lvi n g s t r o n g s u s pici o n o f m u rd e r , , wh e re it m igh t b e d e e m e d a dvi s a bl e t h a t t he p o s t m o r t e m - e x a m i n a t i o n s h o ul d b e p e r fo r m e d by t w o i n d e p e n d e nt e x : p e r t s in o r d e r t o a v o id t he i m pu t at i o n o f ex p a r le i n fl u e n c e ,. O n e o f t h e s e m e dic a l e x a m i n e r s s h o ul d r e pr e s e nt t he S t a t e , a n d t he o t h e r t he a ccu s e d. ’ I n givi n g his e vid e n c e b e fo r e t he c o ro ne r s j ury t he m e di c a l m a n s h o uld n o t u n d e rv a l u e t he S i t u a t i o n A l t h o ugh. t he i n qu e s t b e h e l d in s o m e r e m o t e h o v e l o r b a r n a nd t he , j u ry b e c o mp o s e d o f rud e illi t e ra t e p e r s o ns he s h o u ld n o t , , fa il t o r e m e m b e r t h a t his t e s t i m o ny is a ll t a k e n d o w n by t he pr o p e r o ffi c e r a n d t h a t it wi l l s u r e ly c o n fr o n t him a t , t he a pp r o a c hi n g t r i a l Thi s fa c t s h o uld a l o ne b e s uffi c i e nt. t o i mpr e s s up o n him t he s e r i o u s n e s s o f t he o c c a s i o n a n d , r e m i n d him of t he i m p o rt a nc e o f dra wi n g up his re p o rt wi t h du e c a r e a n d a cc u ra cy. 16

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