Citation

Coley NG. Endeavour 1998; 22(4): 143-147.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0160-9327(98)01137-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Poison has long been a common murder weapon, but in early nineteenth-century Britain toxic substances were readily available and little attention was paid to toxicology. In 1820 the use of poisonous substances in food manufacture was exposed and it was also realized that medical jurisprudence, including toxicology, was already well advanced in some European countries. Better training in these subjects for British doctors was begun, led by three prominent physicians, Robert Christison, Alfred Taylor and Thomas Stevenson. The professions of analytical chemist and Public Analyst were enhanced and the importance of chemical evidence in poison trials was established.