Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic medicine and Toxicology. Vol. 1Witthaus, R. A. (Rudolph August)
Science
Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic medicine and Toxicology. Vol. 1
Witthaus, R. A. (Rudolph August)
Medical jurisprudence; Poisons; Toxicology
The great work of Paulus Zacchias, physician to Pope Innocent X., was
first printed at Rome, 1621-35. This medico-legal classic contains
in the first two volumes the “_Quæstiones_” and in the third the
decisions of the Roman Rota. It treats of every branch of medico-legal
science, and discusses physiological questions of legal interest,
besides dealing with questions such as the infliction of torture and
miracles.[51]
Although the “Quæstiones Medico-legales” of Zacchias was the first
systematic work upon medical jurisprudence, his countrymen in
succeeding centuries have contributed but little to this science. It is
only during the latter part of the present century that Italians have
again become prominent in medico-legal literature.
In France legal medicine progressed but little from the time of Paré to
the latter part of the eighteenth century. Several treatises appeared,
being chiefly upon legitimacy and kindred subjects,[52] with a few
treating of reports, signs of death, etc.[53]
Toward the end of the eighteenth century the labors of Louis, Petit,
Chaussier, and Fodéré elevated legal medicine to the rank of a science.
The investigations of Louis (Ant. L.) were numerous and important in
this as in other subjects,[54] and the “_causes célébres_” contain
reports of many trials in which he threw light upon doubtful medical
questions.[55] Antoine Petit, a contemporary of Louis, contributed an
extensive work on the duration of pregnancy as affecting legitimacy.[56]
Somewhat later Fr. B. Chaussier, between 1785 and 1828, published
at Dijon a number of treatises on infanticide, viability, surgical
malpractice, etc.[57] Fodéré, a Savoyard, was the first to publish a
systematic treatise on medical jurisprudence in France, which was first
printed in 1798 and in a much enlarged form in 1813.[58] This last
edition is an exhaustive treatise upon all branches of legal medicine
and public hygiene, and won for its author the appointment as Professor
of Forensic Medicine in the University of Strassburg.
At about the same period appeared the works of Mahon[59] and of
Belloc,[60] both of which went through three editions in ten years, and
those of Biessy.[61]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account