If Sherlock Holmes had cracked the O. J. Simpson case, he would have done it with forensic science. Techniques and devices used to analyze crime scene evidence--and their real and fictional practitioners--have long fascinated the public. This reference covers all aspects of forensic science:

Types of evidence

Types of crimes or conditions

Criminal cases

Criminal and civil law

The disciplines of criminal justice

Poisons and drugs

The evolution of forensics

Forensic scientists and officials

Serial killers

Relevant literature, characters, and writers

The study focuses on the criminal and societal effects of forensic science in the United States, with attention paid to major British and French advances. The book also examines historical cases in which new techniques were first applied. Entries are arranged both alphabetically and topically, making them easily accessible to student and amateur sleuth alike.

In From Talking Drums to the Internet, readers will learn about sign language, cave paintings, motion pictures, e-mail, cell phones, electronic publishing, satellites, telepathy, the information Superhighway, microelectronics, and videos. They also learn about inventors and other key people who contributed to communications development. This work is a unique and timely addition for every library.