The history of forensic medicine in Hungary

The XIIIth Congress of the International Academy of Forensic and Social Medicine will be held in September 1985, in Budapest, and for this occasion we gave a brief account of the past and present state of forensic medicine in Hungary.     

The development of forensic medicine in the United Kingdom from the 18th century.

Forensic medicine in the United Kingdom includes both forensic pathology and clinical forensic medicine on the living. It began at the end of the 18th century, long after its development in Germany, Italy, France, and other countries in Europe. Initial beginnings were in Scotland, where a program began at the University of Edinburgh with the establishment of a chair in Forensic Medicine by Prof. Andrew Duncan Sr. The development in England began in London's Kings College Medical School with a chair held by Prof. William A. Guy. Later chairs in Forensic Medicine were established in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and in London, where Forensic Medicine was taught at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London Hospital Medical School, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, St. Thomas Hospital Medical School, and St. George's Hospital Medical School. In other cities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, departments were founded in Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff, and Belfast. Many textbooks were prepared during this time by professors from these medical schools and by others working in nonacademic areas. The development of coroner activities and those of the police surgeons is also part of the study of forensic medicine.     

Forensic medicine in the Indo-Pacific region: history and current practice of forensic medicine

A brief history of forensic medicine in the Indo-Pacific region followed by the extent of medical education imparted to undergraduates and current practice in various countries of the region are examined.     

The history of forensic medicine in times of the Weimar republic and national socialism--an approach

German Forensic Medicine established the tasks and aims of forensic medicine during the period of the "Weimar Republic" (1919-1933). Since 1925, forensic medicine is part of the medical examination regulation. In times of the 3rd Reich (1933-1945), most of forensic pathologists were influenced by and involved in National Socialism. The special subject of forensic medicine was endangered by the absence of political neutral forensic pathologists.     

Palliative pain therapy at the end of life and forensic medicine issues.

An 83-year-old woman with a history of Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer died at home while receiving palliative pain therapy with oral morphine from her family for metastatic breast cancer. Allegations of mistreatment were made, and this case was ultimately referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland. An autopsy failed to identify any injuries or residual cancer, leaving no anatomic explanation for the pain that had been presumed to be metastatic breast carcinoma involving bone. The blood free morphine concentration was 5,200 ng/ml, and the total morphine concentration was 15,000 ng/ml. This case demonstrates the challenges and difficulties in forensic medicine when faced with the interpretation of toxicologic results at the end of life.     

The history of the forensic applications in radiology

The history of progress in any field of science is related directly to technical advances which have occurred during that period. The microscope contributed immensely to the advancement of forensic investigations in the late 19th century, with its use to study trace evidence including blood, semen, soil, paint, and biological material. The application of the discovery of x-radiation by Dr. R?entgen of Würzburg, Germany, in 1895 provided an important new tool for medical practitioners throughout the world. Its application was also realized as a potential weapon by medicolegal investigators. Discovery of the location of foreign objects, including bullets, thus became a clinical as well as a forensic technique in support of the investigation of living and deceased persons. The early application of x-ray methodology in England in 1896 by Prof. Arthur Schuster of Owens College, Manchester, in a case of a gunshot wound of a woman, is described as well as some aspects of the primitive technique which were used.     

法医骨组织学研究

在实际检案中 ,当现场发现的骨骼残片体积较小时 ,用解剖学观察无法进行骨骼残片的法医鉴定 ,需使用骨组织学的方法进行骨骼残片的个体识别。目前 ,这是法医人类学中一门较活跃的领域 ,即法医骨组织学。法医骨组织学的内容主要包括两个方面 :(1)骨骼残片是否属于人类骨骼 ,或属于何种动物骨骼。这方面的研究包括人类骨骼的组织学特征研究及不同动物的组织学特征研究。 (2 )人类骨骼个体识别的组织学研究。这方面的研究主要包括 ,人类骨骼的组织学特征的年龄判断 ,例如股骨、胫骨、肱骨、锁骨等 ,以及使用骨组织学方法 ,进行人类骨骼的年龄评价的准确性研究。本文对上述内容进行了综述。