The principles of forensic medicine : systematically arranged, and applied to British practice / By John Gordon Smith.

  • Smith, John Gordon, 1792-1833.
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of forensic medicine : systematically arranged, and applied to British practice / By John Gordon Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    17/608
    nation of the other topics, or discussing these im- perfectly. As systematic perfection has been by no means my object, 1 have thrown them together un- der a separate division, which, until the science shall be so far advanced as to admit of their more advantageous appropriation under other heads, I have denominated “ Miscellaneous.” Such is the principle of arrangement to which I have thought proper to adhere, as the best which I could apply to my purpose. It has been considered inferior to some others. At this I am not at all chagrined; for I am quite ready to admit that it might not suit the views of other writers, to whom I must allow the same liberty that I claim for my- self. It has, however, been said that I acknow- ledged it to be bad, in my preface to the former edition. I beg so far to reply to this inference, (which the expressions whence it appears to be drawn do not seem to warrant,) that many, whose opinions would be thankfully made use of for the correction of my own upon points of greater im- portance even than this, have stated that it is con- venient, and that alone has been my object. With regard to those parts of the work which may appear to meddle with legal details, I have to observe, that they have been introduced for the sole purpose of reminding the members of my own pro- fession of the important nature of their duty, when called to give evidence in court. I profess no ac- quaintance with those matters beyond what it is in this country common for extra-professional men to obtain; and I have resorted to such sources, for the statements in question, as are considered the safest guides, in matters of duty, for those who have not been educated in the law. I disclaim all pretension