Preliminaries

Module Title: Chapter 1 History of Forensic Chemistry

Course Title: Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

Course Number: FRC 313

Course Description: This course provides an overview of the major disciplines of forensic chemistry
and forensic toxicology. It deals with the application of Chemistry in the identification of physical
evidence. It includes collection, preservation, examination and study of blood, semen and other body
fluids for DNA, Arson investigation, analysis of gunpowder and explosives, hair and textile fibers,
chemical aspects of document examinations, analysis of glass fragments and glass fracture,
metallurgy, petrography as applied to crime investigation, study of nature, physiological action,
chemical and physical properties, dosage, treatment and detection of poisons.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:

• Define "forensic chemistry" and its role in forensic investigation

• Identify the characteristics and main functions of a forensic chemist
• Discuss the four stages in the practice of forensic chemistry
• Enumerate the golden rules in the practice of forensic chemistry

Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Chemistry is a branch of Chemistry that deals with the application of chemical
principles in solving problems that arise in connection with the administration of justice

Scope of forensic Chemistry

Forensic chemistry embraces a large and diversified field. It includes not only the chemical
side of Criminal investigation but also the analysis of any materials, the quality of which may
give rise to legal proceedings.
a) Identification of evidence, its physical and chemical properties.
b) Collection, preservation, examination and study of blood, semen, and other body fluids;
c) Examination of dangerous drugs;
d) Examination of body fluid to determine the presence of dangerous drugs;
e) Alcohol (liquor) test; examination of fake products for unfair trade competition;
f) Arson investigation;
g) Macro etching examination;
h) Bullet trajectory;
i) Ultraviolet examination
j) Tools and other marks;
k) Gunshot residues (gunpowder nitrates, paraffin test; distance determination; and firearms
examination);
l) Principles and examination of explosives, hair and textiles fibers
m) Chemical aspects of document and examination;
n) Problems on glass fragments and glass fracture,
o) Moulage, metallurgy and petrography as applied to crime investigation.
p) Forensic Chemistry also includes the study and examination of Deoxyribonucleic acid or
DNA for brevity.

Role of the Chemist in Scientific Criminal investigation

A Forensic Chemist is responsible for applying the physical sciences to the investigation of crimes by
performing laboratory examinations of physical evidence submitted to the crime laboratory. This is
done thorough extensive training under direct supervision in learning how to examine, identify and
evaluate physical evidence.

a.) Performs analytical examination of different controlled substances such as dangerous drugs
and explosive or explosive ingredients.
b.) Conducts gunshot residue examinations.
c.) Identifies different peculiarities from trace evidences.
d.) Examines body fluids for any degree of intoxication of alchol drugs and poisions
e.) Analyzes fake products for unfair trade competitions.
f.) Prepares technical reports, prepares finding for court Duties also include meeting with offices,
city prosecutors, attorneys and court office to discuss laboratory test results.

Purpose of Chemical Analyses

1. Developing investigative leads
2. Establishing aggravating or mitigating circumstances in the commission of the crime
3. Determining the degree of physical injuries
4. Distinguishing murder from homicide
5. In majority of the cases to establish facts constituting a criminal violation

The assistance of the expert, his opinion and subsequent court testimonies are regarded as
essential in determining the penal treatment for the criminals. The findings of the expert furnish
the investigator with a definite information as to the condition of the physical evidence found at
the scene of a crime and this information may lead to further inquiries and help him uncover all
known facts concerning the crime.

Where did forensic science start?

➢ The Chinese book Hsi Duan Yu (The Washing Away of Wrongs), which appeared in
1248, provided the first association of medicine and law.
➢ The book offered useful advice, such as distinguishing drowning (water in the lungs)
and strangulation (pressure marks on the throat and damaged cartilage in the neck)
from death by natural causes.
➢ The first appearance of experts in the courtroom was documented around the end of
the 18th century.
➢ The emergence of modern chemistry around that period led to discoveries which
were applicable to crime investigation and detection.

History & Development of Forensic Science

When in Rome…
➢ “Forensic” comes from the Latin word “forensis” meaning forum.
➢ During the time of the Romans, a criminal charge meant presenting the case before
the public. Both the person accused of the crime & the accuser would give speeches
based on their side of the story. The individual with the best argumentation would
determine the outcome of the case.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
➢ Popularized scientific crime-detection methods through his fictional character
‘Sherlock Holmes’.
Mathieu Orfila(1787-1853)
➢ Wrote about the detection of poisons & their effects on animals.
Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)
➢ Devised the first scientific system of personal identification in 1879. Developed a
system to distinguish one individual person from another based on certain body
measurements.
Francis Galton (1822-1911)
➢ Developed fingerprinting as a way to uniquely identify individuals.
 Leone Lattes (1887-1954)
➢ He developed a procedure for determining the blood type (A, B, AB, or O) of a dried
blood stain.
Calvin Goddard(1891-1955)
➢ Developed the technique to examine bullets, using a comparison microscope, to
determine whether or not a particular gun fired the bullets.
Albert Osborn (1858-1946)
➢ Developed the fundamental principles of document examination
➢ His work led to the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by the courts.
Walter McCrone (1916-2002)
➢ He developed & applied his microscope techniques to examine evidence in countless
court cases.
➢ Utilized microscopy and other analytical methodologies to examine evidence.
Hans Gross (1847-1915)
➢ Wrote the book on applying all the different science disciplines to the field of
criminal investigation.
Edmond Locard(1877-1966)
➢ In 1910, he started the 1st crime lab in an attic of a police station.
➢ With few tools, he quickly became known world-wide to forensic scientists &
criminal investigators & eventually founded the Institute of Criminalistics in France.
➢ incorporared Gross’ principles within a workable crime laboratory.
➢ His most important contribution was the “Locard’s Exchange Principle”
J. Edgar Hoover
➢ “Father of the FBI” - Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation during the 1930’s
➢ Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential administrations. His reign
covered Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, &
the Vietnam War.
➢ He organized a national laboratory to offer forensic services to all law enforcement
agencies in the U.S.

Important Cases in History:

➢ One of the first celebrated cases in forensic science involved the 'father of
toxicology', Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853), who worked in Paris and testified in an
arsenic poisoning criminal trial in 1840. Orfila and others had developed a chemical
test to detect arsenic.
➢ Alphonse Bertillon's (1853-1914) personal identification system using a series of
body and facial measurements for individualization, developed in 1882.
➢ Dr. Francis Galton's (1822-1911) Fingerprints, published in 1892, was another
pioneering contribution to the emerging field of forensic science.
➢ Alexandre Lacassagne (1844-1921) has been called the founder of modern forensic
science.

CRIME LABS
➢ First forensic laboratory was set up in France in 1910.
➢ Scientific crime detection owes its birth to the St. Valentine Massacre which occurred
in Chicago on February 14, 1929 where in a group of public minded individual was
responsible for the establishment of a scientific crime lab. In that city which today has
taken its place in the historical annals of police science.
➢ First crime laboratory in the U.S. was established in 1930 by the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department.
➢ The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lab was established in 1932
➢ 1937 Paul Kirk (1902-1970) set up the first academic criminalistics program in the
U.S. at the University of California.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENTIFIC CRIME LAB IN THE PHILS.

➢ In the Philippines, the 1st public recognition of the value of science in administration
of justice when the position of “Medicos Titulare” was created in the Philippines by
virtue of the Royal Decree No. 188 Spain dated March 31, 1876
➢ Septemcer 13, 1887 – “Laboratorio Municipal de Manila” was established under the
inspection of the Direcion general de Administracion Civil and the control of the
“Gobierno de Provincias”
➢ The first appointed director of the “Laboratorio Municipal de Manila” was Anacleto
del Rosario on June17, 1888
➢ In 1894, the “Laboratorio Medico-Legal” was created functioning under the direction
of a physician and assisted by a pharmacist-chemist. Ulpiano Rodriguez was appointed
as one of the first chemist.
➢ In 1895, Antonio Luna established a clinical laboratory were some original works in
chemistry was done, unfortunately the operation was halted because of the revolution
in 1896
➢ After the revolution and Manila was taken by the US in 1899, the 1 st scientific
laboratory was established with Lt. R.P. Strong of the US Army in charge
➢ Actual scientific work began under the initative of Dean Worcester in 1901 creating
the Bureau of Government Laboratories in July 1, 1901 by virtue of Act No. 156
approved by the Civil Commission. Dr. Paul Freer was appointed first director
➢ By virtue of Act No. 1407, the different biological and chemical laboratories of the
Bureau of Government Laboratories were consolidated into what is known as the
Bureau of Science (now DOST)
➢ March 11, 1915, the Department of Legal Medicine in UP was created Dr. Sixto de los
Angeles was appointed head of this department.
➢ October 14, 1924, through the passage of Act. No. 3043 by the Philippine Legislature,
the same Dept. of Medicine became a branch of the Dept. of Justice
➢ December 1, 1937, the Division of Investigation was created by Commonwealth Act
no. 181 with a medico legal section having two medico legal officer and a chemist
➢ March 31, 1938, the Dept of legal Medicine of the DOJ was abolished and all
activities of this office was turn-over to the medico-legal section of the DI
➢ October 1939, the Philippine Constabulary organized its own medico-legal office
➢ July 8, 1944, different law enforcement agencies engaged in the investigation of
crimes was consolidated into one office, the Bureau of Investigation
➢ June 28, 1945, to cope with the increasing number of crimes in the provinces, the
medico-legal section of the DI was reactivated and by September of the same year the
NBI was organized by RA 157

Equipment used in the Forensic Examination

➢ HPLC (High Powered Liquid Chromatography) - This scientific equipment is used
for the qualitative and quantitative determination of a volatile or non-volatile
compound based on the chromatographic separation of its components.
➢ Ultra-Violet spectrophotometer - It is used for the qualitative and quantitative
analysis of organic compounds.

➢ EMIT (Enzyme Multiple Immuno Assay Technique) - It is used for screening of

abused urine samples.

➢ SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) - This scientific equipment is used for the
physical identification of various questioned specimens. It is a software-controlled
digital scanning electron microscope used to produce sticking images over a wide
range of magnification (3x3,000,000x) on rough or covered surface of minute
specimen such as hair, fibers, paint particles, drugs, metal, etc.
➢ FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy - Used for the identification of
pure organic substances. It identifies organic substances particularly abused drugs
and explosive ingredients based on their characteristic functional groups. In layman’s
term, the resulting spectrum could be referred to as the fingerprints of the substance.