Medical Jurisprudence

Medical Jurisprudence, also called Forensic Medicine, is the branch of medicine which brings medical science to bear on legal questions, in determining criminal and civil responsibility. It has regard mainly either to civil rights or to injuries to the person. Among subjects in its province are those connected with birth, pregnancy, murder, natural death, rape, insanity, monstrosity, accidental or intentional injuries, the action of drugs, &c., all of which are dealt with in their several places. As specially belonging to this subject may be noted the articles on BLOOD-STAINS and POISONING. Good general handbooks are Dr Taylor's Manual and Principles and Practice, and Dr C. M. Tidy's Legal Medicine (2 vols. 1882-83).