Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1548

JOHANN LUDWIG CASPER (1796-1864) A handbook of the practice of forensic medicine. New Sydenham Society 1861-1865 Vol. I: xvi, 317 pp.; Vol. II: vi [1] 331 pp.; Vol. III: ix [1] 417 pp.; Vol. IV: xii, 364 pp. 21.5 cm.

Casper was one of the leading figures in the development of forensic medicine in Germany during the nineteenth century. Trained initially as a pharmacist, he turned to medicine in 1817 and received his doctorate at Halle in 1819. He became a lecturer in pathology and pharmaceutics at Berlin in 1822 and advanced to the rank of professor in 1839. He was appointed forensic examiner for the city of Berlin in 1841 and in 1850 became director of forensic studies at the University of Berlin. Casper was a popular lecturer, an active author, and editor of several of the leading medical journals of his day. His books on medical statistics, state medicine, and medico-legal autopsies were authoritative and widely read by the medical community. This English translation of his Practisches Handbuch der gerichtlichen Medicin, first published at Berlin in 1857-1858, was made for the New Sydenham Society by George William Balfour (see No. 1909), a member of Edinburgh's Royal College of Physicians. Most of the book deals with the investigation of death after obvious or suspected violence. Casper emphasized that the investigating pathologist should have a broad knowledge of the law and of weapons. He should also be familiar with the deceased person's occupation, family background, personal habits, educational background, and personality because these might be important in determining the manner and cause of death.

See Related Record(s): 1909

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 1743 (German ed., 1857-1858); Waller 1802 (German ed., 1864)

Gift of John Martin, M.D.