nected with the conservation of the species and the administration of justice, the term Forensic or Legal Medicine has been applied. It also forms the Medical Jurisprudence of some writers.

In order to be as concise and as plain as possible, it will be necessary to discuss some matters of general application, before considering others which have a more special interest. These will therefore be considered under the following heads.

MEDICAL EVIDENCE GENERALLY.

A. Documentary. B. Oral. C. Experimental.

A. DOCUMENTARY.

Under this head are included Medical Reports, Written Opinions, and Medical Certificates.

Α

The Medical Certificate.-There is no particular legal form prescribed in England for these documents. A statement signed by a registered medical practitioner, distinctly stating the nature of the illness of A. or B., is all that is necessary as far as the law is concerned. 'A certificate of bad health by a physician or surgeon must bear to be on soul and conscience.' 'In cases of homicide, and other crimes against the person, medical certificates produced respecting the nature of the injuries must be verified on oath by the medical persons who granted them.'-Dict. Scot. Law.

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It cannot be too strongly urged on medical men the necessity of simplicity in the arrangement and in the wording of their reports. A medical witness will do well to remember also, that copies of his report and depositions, either before a coroner or magistrate, are usually placed in the hands of counsel as well as of the court; and that his evidence, as it is given at the trial, is compared word for word with that which has already been put on record.' All hearsay statements and irrelevant matter should not be inserted in a report. All technical words or phrases should be as much as possible avoided; and where they are absolutely necessary, they should be briefly explained. The use of superlatives is also very objectionable, as it partakes somewhat of exaggeration. All notes of a case should be made at the time of the inspection or immediately afterwards. From these notes a witness may refresh his memory, but they are not accepted in its place. They should contain a plain statement of the facts; and to render them admissible as evidence, they must be taken at the time, and duly attested.

A medical report consists of two parts-the Minute of the Examination, and the Reasoned Opinion on the first portion of the report. In the case where the report is made by two or more persons appointed for the purpose, the latter portion is written in the plural, and signed by each of the parties certifying.