Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body

New York City Crime Scene (1914-1918, New York City Municipal Archives). From the exhibition Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body at the National Library of Medicine. "...Visible Proofs is about the history of forensic medicine. Over the centuries, physicians, surgeons, and other professionals have struggled to develop scientific methods that translate views of bodies and body parts into 'visible proofs' that can persuade judges, juries, and the public. At times, the power of forensics has been exceeded by the difficulty of the questions it seeks to answer. But at best, its visible proofs testify on behalf of the victims of violent crime and against the guilty—and console and inspire and amaze us."