VII. SOME STEPPING-STONES OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE.
1200 Pledge to answer truly appears.
1215 Trial by Ordeal abolished.
1275 The Coroner’s Ordinance. The
inquest jury were the witnesses
also; inspection of external
appearances was alone necessary
for the jury’s post-mortem
examination.
1290 The Court, after being advised by
physicians, direct the jury as to
the legitimacy of a posthumous
child.
1345 The Sheriff is directed to summon
the foremost London medical
men to consider the severity of
a recently inflicted wound.
1354 A charge of surgical malpraxis
narrated in the City Records.
1450 Common witnesses are summoned
to appear before the jury.
1506 Dispute as to the province of the
Court or the surgeon to decide
upon the severity of a wound.
Anatomical post-mortem examinations
occur, though pathology is
primitive. “Searchers.”
1542 Thomas Vicary advises the Lord
Mayor in a case of battery.
1562 Witnesses summoned sub-pœna.
1575 Ambrose Paré publishes typical
“medico-legal reports.”
1632 College of Physicians report in
full on a corrosive poisoning case.
1665 Sir Thomas Browne affirmed in
Court his belief in witches.
1699 Baron Hatsell objects to Dr. Crell
quoting “Ambros Parey’s”
opinions.
1723 Mr. Justice Tracey enunciates
“the wild beast” theory of
responsibility in lunacy cases.
1767 Slater v. Baker & Stapleton—a case
of surgical malpraxis; damages
£500.
1781 John Hunter gives expert evidence
in an alleged poisoning case:
“I can give nothing definite.”
1788 Samuel Farr’s Elements of Medical
Jurisprudence.
1795 Matthew Baillie exposes the fallacy
of “Death from polyp of the
heart.”
1807 Chair of Medical Jurisprudence
established in Edinburgh.
1823 Last “cross-road” burial of suicides
in England.
1827 Orfila doubts detection of blood-stain
with the microscope.
1830 The first Medical Coroner elected.
“A medical Crowner’s a queer sort
of thing.”
1831 Sir Thos. Watson lectures at
King’s College Hospital, and
Swaine Taylor at Guy’s.
1832 The Anatomy Act, after Burke and
Hare scandals. “Burke Hare
too!”
1836 Registration of “the cause of
death” introduced.
Sir Dominic Corrigan’s clause as
to fact of death: “As I am
informed” (1874).
1837 The Medical Witnesses Remuneration
Act allows fees for medical
evidence at inquests; inquests
and autopsies increase, pathology
advances.
1843 Swaine Taylor’s Manual of Medical
Jurisprudence (Principles and
Practice, 1865).
Rules as to the test of criminal
responsibility of the insane
(McNaughten’s case).
1844 Rudolph Virchow’s Die Sections-Tecknik
commenced.
1845 Telegraph first used for arrest of a
prisoner (Tawell).
1846 Anæsthetics introduced. “Gentlemen!
Here is no humbug!”
1848 The first Public Health Act.
1851 Stas devises his process to detect
poisoning by alkaloids (nicotine).
1857 Lord Chief Justice Cockburn discredits
microscopical evidence.
1858 “Railway shock” appears.
The Medical Act registers medical
practitioners.
1862 Hoppe-Seyler suggests medico-legal
use of the spectroscope
(Muller’s case, 1864).
1863 Photography applied to surgery.
(1871, criminals photographed).
1864 Listerism introduced.
1868 Crown Office (Scotland) memorandum
for medico-legal examination
of dead bodies (revised 1897).
1883 Bertillonage employed (France).
1879 The first Inebriates Act.
1886 The triple qualification necessary.
1887 Retford ptomaine poisoning.
1888 Witnesses emancipated from “kissing
the Book.”
1893 Phonograph heard in the Chancery
Division.
Report on Death Certification.
1896 Skiagram of ankle produced in an
action for damages.
1897 Finger-print records recognized
(India).
1897 Cinematograph used in Medicine.
1901 Medico-Legal Society founded.
1902 A “thumb-print” accepted at the
Old Bailey.
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