Principles of Medical Jurisprudence

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Description
The topics embraced in the Science of MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE have been constantly acquiring importance in proportion as the wants of society have in creased, its resources multiplied, and the refinements of civilization become ex- tended and enlarged. Although its principles have ever lain at the foundation of general jurisprudence, yet their clear ascertainment, and embodiment in a scientific form, have been comparatively recent. Within the last half century, great and important advancements have been made in a knowledge of them, and their application to the practical affairs of life. The wants and requisitions of society, in regard to this knowledge, have been furnishing a constant stimulus to the human mind, and inciting it to continued effort in discovering new principles. as well as defining, elucidating, and applying, those that were old.
The demand of the public, in this respect, is sufficiently evidenced in the multiplication of the means of instruction, that is every where taking place. No medical institution in this country or Europe, could now deem its organization complete, without a department devoted exclusively to an exposition of the facts and principles embraced in Medical Jurisprudence.
An experience of some eleven years in teaching in this department, together with a knowledge of the wants of the legal and medical professions in regard to it, have led to the compilation of the work now offered to the public. It does not propose to add new heads, or general topics, for discussion; to deal in original disquisitions, upon doubtful or unsettled principles; or to offer mere novel ties to those in pursuit of knowledge on its various subjects. The objects chiefly had in view, have been, a methodical, systematic arrangement of the topics legitimately embraced in the department; and in the treatment of each, a con- densation of the knowledge now possessed; and an exhibition of it in a clear, natural, and logical order, together with such illustrations as were deemed necessary to make an application of the principles to practice. In the selection, and narration of cases, both multiplication, and minuteness of detail, have been equally avoided; the object being simply to illustrate, and facilitate the reduction to practice, of the principles embraced in them. By adopting this course, I am enabled, within the compass of a single volume, to state in concise terms, all, or nearly all, the ascertained facts and well settled principles that are important to be known, with a brief statement of the cases that serve to illustrate them; making, at the same time, a reference to the sources from which they were obtained, and where also a greater number of cases, and more minute de. tails of each may be found.
The materials of the work have been derived from many different sources. Without presuming to enumerate all, I acknowledge myself particularly indebt. ed to Dr. Beck's Elements of Medical Jurisprudence, Dr. Guy's Principles of Forensic Medicine, Mr. Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence, Dr. Smith' Principles of Forensic Medicine, Paris and Fonblanque's Medical Jurispru dence; and on single topics, Dr. Montgomery's exposition of the Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy, Dr. Watson on Homicide, Dr. Kennedy on Preg nancy and Auscultation, Dr. Kay on Asphyxia, Dr. Christison on Poisons, Dr. Prichard on the Different Forms of Insanity, Dr. Combe on Mental De rangement, and Dr. Ray on the Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity.
I have been careful as far as possible, in all cases, to make a distinct refe- rence to the source from which the fact, principle, or case stated has been de. rived. I have done this in the hope, not only of possessing the reader with the principle, and a brief outline of the case which illustrates it, but also, at the same time, of placing before him such references as will enable him to make fuller investigations in regard to any point or principle he may be interested in studying. It is not, therefore, the exclusive design of this work, to supersede other and more voluminous works on the subjects embraced in it; but to furnish, in as intelligible and concise a form as possible, the substance of what they contain, with references to them for fuller discussions, and minuter details of cases. At the same time, it aims to be sufficiently full and minute in its expo. sition of facts, principles and illustrations, to possess the mind with such an amount of knowledge as may be necessary for all the general purposes for which it may be required.
ALBANY, May, 1850.