BETA
Chapter 1
Animals in the medieval courtroom
Chapter 2
Wild cures and the four humors
Chapter 3
Forensic flies and golden age science
YOUR GOAL
Master of Bizarre medieval law and medicine
Ch 3 · Forensic flies and golden age science
misslily Forensic Entomology
The flies know! The flies know! They swarm the secret blood on the blade.
Fun Fact
Fly detectives: In 1247, Chinese investigator Song Ci solved a murder by noticing that blowflies only landed on one specific sickle, which still had invisible blood traces.
Glossary
forensic entomology (noun)
The scientific study of insects and their developmental stages as applied to criminal and civil legal matters. Song Ci recorded its earliest known application in 1247 China to solve a sickle murder.
The scientific study of insects and their developmental stages as applied to criminal and civil legal matters. Song Ci recorded its earliest known application in 1247 China to solve a sickle murder.
Quiz
How did Chinese forensic pioneer Song Ci identify a murder weapon in a 13th-century village?
Quiz
What public health measure did Ibn Sina advocate for to stop the spread of infectious diseases?
Quiz
Which medieval Islamic scholar is considered the 'father of modern surgery' for inventing over 200 surgical tools?
Quiz
Who wrote the world's first systematic forensic medicine book, 'The Washing Away of Wrongs'?
Quiz
What material did medieval Islamic surgeons use for internal stitches, which is still used today?
Quiz
Which Persian physician wrote 'The Canon of Medicine,' which was used in Europe for over 500 years?
Quiz
What active ingredients were soaked into a medieval 'soporific sponge' to put patients to sleep?