Introductory lecture to a course on forensic medicine, delivered in the Anatomical Theatre of St. Bartholomew's Hospital / [Sir George Burrows].

  • Sir George Burrows, 1st Baronet
Date:
[1831]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introductory lecture to a course on forensic medicine, delivered in the Anatomical Theatre of St. Bartholomew's Hospital / [Sir George Burrows]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    when Charles the Fifth of Germany promulgated a code of laws having express reference to the subject of medical jurisprudence. His example was soon followed by the Italian, French, and other continental governments. From that period the science has been much cultivated, and numerous and voluminous works have appeared treat¬ ing on it. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the writers of Germany and Italy far excelled those of other countries. Indeed it was not till the close of the last century, that any valuable treatise on this branch of medical literature had appeared in France. The constellation of learned men which shone forth at the time of the first French revolution have added much valuable information to this as to every other department of medical science. To our shame it must be recorded, that, previously to the present century, no treatise on forensic medicine by a British author existed; and even at the present day there are but few works bearing the stamp of originality. The best in the English language is perhaps The Elements of Medical Jurisprudence,” by the American author. Dr. Beck. This is a compilation of great extent, and the last edition is enriched with some very valuable notes by the English editors. Dr. Darwall and Mr. Dunlop. This book is well worthy of the perusal of the student, and in it he will find the opinions of the-foreign authors of the last century very accurately transcribed, and more particu¬ larly those of the celebrated French author, M. Fodere. To those who have ample time, much information may be obtained from the voluminous work of Paris and Fon- blanque on medical jurisprudence. Dr. Gordon Smith’s “ Principles of Forensic Medi¬ cine” is a useful work, but more especially so, because it contains a large number of cases illustrative of the princi¬ ples of the science. ‘‘The Analysis of Medical Evi¬ dence,” by the same author, is also worthy of a careful perusal.
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