Jamaica ginger and 'The Jake Leg'

The Jake Leg was an epidemic found primarily during the early 20th Century in 'dry' America. America in the early 20th Century was place rife with poison and one of the places that forensic since was born. The Jake Leg however was not a symptom of poisons employed by malicious murderers or ignorant architects, rather something people induced themselves. As the astute of you may have guessed this this is symptom of bootlegged alcohol poisoning, namely a type called Ginger Jake. Ginger Jake was the dry alcohol for the poorer folk in South America, who could not afford properly, illegally distilled alcohol.

Those readers who are not experts on prohibition America (what weirdos right?) may be asking what the jake leg was. The jake leg was in fact a particularly nasty symptom of ginger jake poisoning. The jake leg was in fact a partial paralysis, which was usually severe enough to force the sufferer to walk in a foot slapping, high stepping style. 

The Jake Leg was actually caused tri-orthocresyl (TOCP). Tri-orthocresyl is an organophosphate which is used as a solvent in industry (a plasticiser), especially in aircraft oil. It causes peripheral neuropathy, degeneration of the peripheral nerves, inhibiting communication between brain and extremities. 

This effect is primarily due to the reaction between TOCP and a particular enzyme in the nerves (it acts as an enzyme inhibitor). The TOCP enzyme complex then goes through a process known as ageing. The reaction with the protein occurs rapidly (taking roughly an hour), however the neuropath takes much longer to become evident (10 days at least). This is because the enzyme which is inhibited by TOCP is essential to nerve cell function. Therefore in the long cells in the arms and legs the nerves die progressively. This entails a degeneration of the myelin sheathe and nerve working upwards towards the spinal cord. 

Dry America was a dangerous place for many reasons, with radon in water, thallium in make up and TOCP in alcohol. Toxicology is the science that put a stop to this. It doesn't just ensure that murderers are brought to justice but helps to protect everyone from exposure to some of the deadliest chemicals out there. 

That concludes todays post, until nest time! Over and out. 

Questioned Document Examination: Literary Forensics

Familiar to anyone who's watched 'Zodiac', handwriting analysis is a field which is invaluable due to the ubiquity of checks and receipts, and the scarcity of competent forgers. It has many uses as well, from confirming suicide notes to tracing who bought what drugs.

Handwriting analysis is usually made up of three stages, according to the ASTM standard guide for examination of written evidence:

1. Analysis:
   Questioned and known items are analysed and broken down to directly perceptible characteristics. These characteristics are usually:
  - Form : elements comprising the shape of the letters, such as proportions, slants, angles, retracings, connections and curves.
  - Line Quality : The pressure exerted and continuity of the script.
  - Arrangement : Any distinctive punctuation, alignment or formatting.
  - Content : Spelling, phrasing, punctuation and grammar.

2. Comparison:
   The characteristics are then compared to a known standard. A known standard, otherwise known as a writing examplar, is a piece of writing used to compare your sample against. It is either requested or collected. These are complimentary to each other as collected writing is less likely to be altered, but typically has fewer reference characteristics, while you can control the conditions perfectly and shove in as many reference points as you want to a requested piece of writing but it is much more likely to be altered. A combination of both is always a good thing.

3. Evaluation: The characteristics of the pieces of writing are evaluated and cimilarities and differences are compared. The conclusion is drawn from a combination of the frequency and uniqueness of characteristics present.

It is important to note that handwriting analysis is not a perfect science, thus in order to use it in a court of law it would always be advisable to seek peer review. With handwriting analysis there are so many variables and every style is so unique that it is difficult (if not down right impossible) to draw certain conclusions. However it is still fairly reliable, and since almost nothing is certain in forensics that's good enough to make it a useful tool in the forensic scientists arsenal.

Here's a quick example of where the FBI managed to pull a match between the sign off of the baby sitter, and the sign off on a ransom note. The minimal efforts to disguise the writing make this suspect an easy case study.

Thanks for reading everyone, any comments, critiques or suggestions, feel free to comment! If not sit tight until next time!