Forensic Toxicology in Germany and France during the 19th Century: Methods Development in Judicial Context

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Carsten Reinhardt
• Subject Area: History of Science
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 391910812

During the nineteenth century, chemists and physicians established the field of forensic toxicology in the context of judicial expertise. In these discussions epistemic values, such as explanatory power, reliability, and accuracy, contributed to the decisions about the use of scientific methods. At the same time, these epistemic values connected the judiciary and scientific disciplines. The project analyzes these processes in comparing France and Germany. The German states and France differed in their scientific cultures, but showed strong resemblance in their judicial conditions. How did forensic experts in both nations succeed to develop methods that fulfilled judicial requirements? What was the impact on disciplines in laying the scientific groundwork? What similarities and differences were visible? What was the role of the performativity of experts? The project attempts to answer these questions in historical-comparative perspective.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants