2.2a History of Forensic Science PT 1

Summary

This video lecture explores the premodern era of forensic science, highlighting significant historical milestones. It begins with the Latin origin of 'forensic' and its application in ancient Roman courts. The lecture delves into early methods of crime investigation, such as torture to extract confessions. It then journeys through time, discussing Antus' autopsy of Julius Caesar, the use of pigs in 3rd Century China to solve a murder case, the first recorded use of fingerprints for identification in the 8th Century, and the publication of 'The Washing Away of Wrongs' in 1248 AD, a pioneering forensic science book. The lecture concludes with the work of Marcello Malpighi, who documented fingerprint differences in the 17th Century, setting the stage for modern forensic science.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The term 'forensic' originates from the Latin word meaning 'belonging to the Forum', highlighting its historical connection to courts and legal proceedings.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Premodern forensic science involved practices that were ahead of their time, such as the first known autopsy performed by Antestor, Julius Caesar's physician, in 44 BC.
• 🔥 In 3rd Century AD China, the absence of ashes in a victim's mouth led to the use of pigs in a controlled experiment, revealing the wife's arson and murder.
• 📜 'The Washing Away of Wrongs', published in 1248 AD in China, was one of the earliest forensic science books, detailing how to distinguish between different types of crimes.
• 🐝 Sunu, a medical examiner in China, used entomology (the study of insects) to solve a murder case by observing flies' attraction to the murder weapon.
• 👁️‍🗨️ In the 8th Century, China saw the first use of fingerprints for identification purposes, such as marking clay pots for ownership and document certification.
• 🖐️ Marcello Malpighi, a professor of anatomy, documented the differences between fingerprints in the 17th Century, although he did not recognize their use for identification.
• 🚫 Historical methods of determining guilt or innocence, such as torture, are thankfully no longer in practice due to the advancement of forensic science.
• 📈 The script outlines a historical overview of forensic science, emphasizing the evolution from rudimentary to modern, scientifically-backed practices.
• 🔬 The lecture series promises to continue with Part Two, which will delve into the developments that propelled modern forensic science.

Q & A

What does the word 'forensic' mean and where does it originate from?

The word 'forensic' is Latin and means 'belonging to the Forum' or 'belonging to the court'. It was used in ancient Rome to describe a science that is used in courts to determine someone's guilt or innocence, requiring great detail and precision.

How was guilt or innocence determined in premodern times before the 17th century?

In premodern times, before the 17th century, guilt or innocence might be determined through methods such as torture. If a person confessed under torture, they were considered guilty, while resisting pain was seen as a sign of innocence due to righteousness and virtue.

Who was Antestor and what is his significance in the history of forensic science?

Antestor was the personal physician to Julius Caesar and performed the first known autopsy. He concluded that Caesar was stabbed 23 times, with the second blow to the heart being the fatal one.

What is the significance of the book 'Yug' in the context of Chinese forensic history?

The book 'Yug', published in 3rd Century AD China, was significant as it was a collection of criminal cases where some form of science was applied to the investigations, marking an early form of forensic science.

How did the Chinese officials in the 3rd Century AD use pigs to solve a case of a husband burned to death?

Chinese officials used pigs to determine if the husband's death was accidental or a murder. They noticed no ashes in the mouth of the deceased, which led them to burn two pigs, one alive and one dead, to observe the presence of ashes in the mouth. The living pig had ashes, while the dead one did not, leading to the wife's confession of murder.

When were fingerprints first used for identification in China?

Fingerprints were first used for identification in 8th Century China, where they were used on clay pots to identify ownership and to certify documents.

What is the title of the first forensic science book published in China in 1248 AD, and what did it discuss?

The title of the first forensic science book published in 1248 AD in China is 'The Washing Away of Wrongs'. It discussed how to differentiate between types of crimes and how they were committed, including methods to distinguish between causes of death such as strangulation and drowning.

Who was Sunu and what was his contribution to the field of forensic entomology?

Sunu was a medical examiner in China who used forensic entomology to solve a murder case. He gathered villager's knives and sickles and observed that flies were attracted to the murder weapon due to residual blood, leading the murderer to confess.

Who was Marcelo Malpighi and what was his contribution to the understanding of fingerprints?

Marcelo Malpighi was a professor of anatomy at the University of Bologna who recorded the differences between fingerprints. Although he did not acknowledge their use for identification, he was one of the first to map out and provide detailed information about the variations in fingerprints.

What will be covered in the second part of the history of forensic science video lecture?

The second part of the history of forensic science video lecture will cover more information about modern forensic science, building upon the historical overview provided in the first part.