Poison and Proof: Forensic Toxicology - A Brief History
Poison and Proof traces the emergence of forensic toxicology from its earliest roots to its role in modern investigation.
The book examines how poisons were used, detected, and often misunderstood, following key cases that exposed both the limits and the potential of early science. It charts the development of chemical testing—from unreliable methods to breakthroughs such as the work of Mathieu Orfila and James Marsh—and shows how these advances began to shape legal outcomes.
These cases did more than solve individual crimes. They forced courts to confront scientific evidence, established new standards of proof, and revealed how easily justice could be distorted without reliable methods. The legacy of these developments continues to influence how poisoning is understood, investigated, and judged today.