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44 BCE
Death of an Emperor
Julius Caesar is assassinated. Following this event, a physician performed an autopsy, and determined that of the 23 wounds found on the body, only one was fatal. -
Jan 11, 1247
Forensic Textbook
In 1247 the first textbook on forensic medicine was published in China which among others things documented the procedures to be followed when investigating a suspicious death. -
Jan 11, 1302
The first forensic autopsy is preformed
The first forensic autopsies were done in Bologna by a civil officer to determine if a death being investigated was caused by fault. -
Chemical Testing Utilized
James Marsh, an English chemist, uses chemical processes to determine arsenic as the cause of death in a murder trial. -
Thomas TAYLOR, microscopist to U.S. Department of Agriculture
markings of the palms of the hands and the tips of the fingers could be used for identification in criminal cases. -
Fingerprinting
Sir Francis Galton established the first system for classifying fingerprints. Sir Edward Henry, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police of London, developed his own system in 1896 based on the direction, flow, pattern and other characteristics in fingerprints. -
Hair now used in Forensics
Victor Balthazard and Marcelle Lambert publish first study on hair, including microscopic studies from most animals. First legal case ever involving hair also took place following this study. -
Footwear Detection System
Britain's Forensic Science Service develops online footwear coding and detection system. This helps police to identify footwear marks quickly. -
4 Second Dental Match
Japanese researchers develop a dental x-ray matching system. This system can automatically match dental x-rays in a database, and makes a positive match in less than 4 seconds. -
Rigor Mortis and Lividity
Rigor Mortis and Lividity are two natural occurrences within the human body after death that can be used as a means of determining - or at least estimating - when the deceased died.