Foreword

Professor Leon Derobert is internationally known and respected for his work in the field of legal medicine.

I have, from time to time, commented in my books about the importance of legal medicine and its function in the detection of crime.

We hear so much about the efficiency of science in detecting crimes that too few people realize what a sad state of affairs results when science is absent in this field. And, yet, science almost always is absent unless there is some regularly qualified expert in forensic medicine to take charge of the investigation.

Many times wounds of entrance in the case of a gunshot are considered wounds of exit. Many times death by poisoning is mistaken for a natural death.

I have tried in these Perry Mason books to impress upon my readers who are interested in crime (and many of whom are first-class amateur detectives) the importance of supporting a program of legal medicine.

And so it gives me great pleasure to dedicate this book to my friend, PROFESSOR LEON DEROBERT.

— ERLE STANLEY GARDNER