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Semenenko O. V.
THE WORK OF PROFESSOR OF FORENSIC
MEDICINE N. S. BOKARIUS IN THE FIELD OF
THE RESEARCH OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine

Abstract. The article is devoted to the activity of the outstanding scientist and
medicolegist Nikolay Sergeyevich Bokarius. The article considers the work of
N. S. Bokarius on the study of physical evidence. The fundamental scientific works of
N. S. Bokarius were analyzed. They contained many new at that time concepts on
research of physical evidence.
Keywords: forensic medicine, criminalistics, physical evidence.

Medicolegists - outstanding scholars and practitioners made significant

contribution to the history of the formation and development of forensics and
criminology. However, the medicolegist and criminologist, Emeritus Professor
N. S. Bokarius occupies a special placein the development of forensics and
criminology.His works were in fact the first textbooks and practical guidance on
criminology for employees of inquiry, investigation, forensic experts.One of the main
directions of scientific activity of N. S. Bokariuswashis work in the field of the
research of physical evidence.
The aim of this article is to analyze scientific works of N. S. Bokarius devoted
to the study of physical evidence to present the total value of the contribution of the
scientist in the development of one of the most important issues for forensics.
N. S. Bokarius was born in 1869 in Odessa. After graduating from a high
school in 1890 he entered Medical Faculty of Imperial Kharkov University, which he
brilliantly graduated in 1895. As a student, N. S. Bokarius became interested in
forensic medicine, in particular, he was interested in the study of physical evidence [1,
81].
In 1897 N. S. Bokarius started working at the Department of Forensic
Medicine of Kharkov University. In the first years of work, he held a number of
studies on the reaction of Florence, publishing his observations in Russian and
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German magazines in 1900 - 1902. The result of this work was the doctoral thesis of
N. S. Bokarius about "Florence's Crystals, their chemical nature and the value for the
forensic medicine", which he defended at Moscow University in 1902 [2, 9].
His thesis N. S. Bokarius devoted to the determination of the chemical nature
of Florence’s microcrystals which are formed in aqueous extracts of “similar to
seminal stains” mixed with iodine solution in potassium iodide. This reaction caused
considerable disagreement among scholars as to its use as a sample of evidence for
the presence of human sperm [3, 17].
In connection with the instability of Florence’s Crystals, N. S. Bokarius
developed methods of receiving them in quantities, sufficient for analytical purposes.
In the matter itself he determined choline, which is formed during the decay of
lecithin, widespread in the nature, especially in animal cells and plant bodies. As a
result of his research N. S. Bokarius came to the conclusion that Florence’s reaction
is not specific for semen, so an expert in this case should not rely solely on this
evidence of the guilt of a defendant, so Nikolay Sergeevich was able to give an
affirmative answer to the existing at that time disagreements between scholars about
the demonstrative value of Florence’s Crystalls during analyzing the seminal stains [4,
10].
In 1907 continuing the observations in the study of seminal stains,
N. S. Bokarius published a work "On the microchemical reactions to the semen," in
he which criticized the reaction of Barberio and offered his own reagent to produce
crystals. These crystals are known in the literature as crystals of Bokarius [5, 19].
At the same time Nikolai Sergeyevich is working on a relatively new at the
time question of determining the type of blood by hemoglobin crystals and in the
work, published in 1902, he indicates that the best and more resistant hemoglobin
crystals are obtained by adding to themacacia. In the same work N. S Bokarius first
describes hemoglobin crystals of birds’ blood [6, 13].
One of the most significant works of N. S. Bokarius in the study of physical
evidence was his work "On the Importance of strangulation furrow at hanging",
which was published in 1904. Nicholay Sergeevych devoted this work to the
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microscopic diagnosis of a strangulation furrow at hanging. The author paid attention
to the differential diagnosis of in vivo and posthumous character of the strangulation
furrow, where one of the main signs, he believed, was peculiarity of the blood supply
of the area of soft tissues at the place of strangling. Judging by the analysis of
scientific research conducted by the scientist, the question of differential diagnosis of
in vivo and posthumous character of the strangulation furrow was poorly
investigatedand particularly relevant, and works on this subject had been published
mainly abroad. N. S. Bokarius described peculiarities of blood distribution in a
strangulation furrow, which allowed to differentiate clearly its in vivo character. In
addition, he developed a methodology for the study of furrows, which later became
known as "Bokarius’s test" and is widely used by forensic experts nowadays [3, 22].
It should be emphasized that this work, as well as many other works of
N. S Bokariuswas characterized by a deep scientific analysis of works on the subject,
made earlier by other scientists.NikolaySergeevich gathered a huge library of world
literature on forensic medicine and criminalistics, which, along with knowledge of 17
foreign languages helped him in a thorough analysis of the literature [2, 10].
The great importance which N. S. Bokarius attached to work with physical
evidence, is demonstrated by the fact that his first significant work as the head of the
University Department of Forensic Medicine, he devoted precisely to this subject, by
publishing in 1910 a guide for physicians, pharmacists and students - "Forensic
microscopical and microchemical study of physical evidence." [3, 25]. In the
epigraph to this paper N. S. Bokarius wrote: "In order to facilitate the work of those
who will have to deal with this kind of research, I decided to release the present book
- the first experience of such work in our literature."[7, 2] In this guide with
comprehensive at that time completeness were represented the rules for the use of the
microscope and spectroscope, use of microscopy in forensic practice at the study of a
wide range of objects as physical evidence, many of which have not lost their
importance at the present time. Although N. S. Bokarius called his book a guide for
doctors, students and pharmacists, it also helped a lot to investigators. It examines the
methods of research not only of traditional forensic objects (blood, saliva, seminal
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stains, hair), but also objects related to medicine, in particular plant fibers.The author
did not leave aside the organizational aspect of microscopical and microchemical
research of physical evidence as well.For a long time it was the only guide for the
forensic examination of physical evidence and was required to read by everybody
who worked in this area [4, 11].
In 1913 and 1914.N. S. Bokarius published works in which he proposed a new
method for producing Teyhmann’s crystals at the study of blood stains[5, 18].
In 1915 N. S Bokarius offers his own reagent to form a solution of
hemochromogen at the study of blood stains[4, 11].
Paying great attention to the study of physical evidence in order to facilitate the
work of the students at the study of this section in 1916, N. S. Bokarius published
separate editions of "Guidance for practical work ..." to study blood stains, hair,
fibers and feathers [2, 10].
Throughout his long-term activity N. S. Bokarius performed about 5000
examinations on research of physical evidence. In his work the scientist held the
opinion that only the experience of the practical activity is not enough to prove
conclusions on this or that matter. Every phenomenon, every fact must be studied
scientifically and, where possible, confirmed experimentally. Only data derived from
accurate observations, experimental studies and practical cases can serve as a basis
for a conclusion on various issues of forensic practice[5, 19].
Scientific works of N. S Bokariuson the research of physical evidence have
become an invaluable heritage of his fruitful scientific activity. They have left their
mark in the educational and medical literature to the present day, contributed to the
development of forensic medicine and criminalistics, provided invaluable assistance
to the law enforcement bodies in solving crimes against life and health of the
individual.
References.
1. Ольховский, В. А. Заслуженный професор Н. С. Бокариус и его научные
труды – исторический вклад в развитие отечественной судебной медицины (к
145-летию со дня рождения Н. С. Бокариуса) / В. А. Ольховский,
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В. В. Бондаренко, А. В. Кись // Судово-медична експертиза. – 2014. - № 2. – С.
80 – 89.
2. Татиев, К. И. Н. С. Бокариус – основоположник научного метода
первоначального наружного осмотра трупа на месте обнаружения /
К. И. Татиев // Сборник рефератов докладов расширенной научной
конференции, посвященной 25-й годовщине со дня смерти засл. проф.
Н. С. Бокариус. 23 – 26 декабря 1956 года. Х., 1956. – С. 9 – 10.
3. Лесовой, В. Н. Научные труды заслуженого професора Н. С. Бокариуса –
незабываемый вклад в развитие отечественной судебной медицины /
В. Н. Лесовой, В. А. Ольховский, В. В. Бондаренко // Бокаріусовські чтання:
Збірник матеріалів Всеукраїнської науково-практичної конференції з
міжнародною участю «Впровадження сучасних наукових досягнень в судову
експертизу» (м. Харків, 10 – 11 вересня 2009 року). – Х.: ТОВ «Оберіг» 2009. –
С. 15 – 30.
4. Бокариус, Н. Н. Работа засл. проф. Н. С. Бокариус в области исследования
вещественных доказательств / Н. Н. Бокариус // Сборник рефератов докладов
расширенной научной конференции, посвященной 25-й годовщине со дня
смерти засл. проф. Н. С. Бокариус. 23 – 26 декабря 1956 года. Х., 1956. – С. 10-
11.
5. Лакиза, Б. С. Вклад Н. С. Бокариуса в становление судебно-медицинской
экспертизы вещественных доказательств / Б. С. Лакиза // «Бокаріусовські
читання»: Матеріали Першої міжнар. наук.-практ. конф. cудових медиків і
криміналістів, присвяч.. 75-річ. З дня смерті Засл. Проф. М. С. Бокаріуса
(Харків) 8 – 9 груд. 2006 р. – Х., - С. 17 – 19.
6. Колмаков, В. П. Вопросы методики расследования преступлений против
жизни в трудах засл. проф. Н. С. Бокариус / В. П. Колмаков // Сборник
рефератов докладов расширенной научной конференции, посвященной 25-й
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Х., 1956. – С. 11-13

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7. Бокариус Н. С. Судебно-медицинские микроскопические и
микрохимические исследования вещественных доказательств: опыт
руководства для врачей, студентов и фармацевтов / Н. С. Бокариус. – Х., 1910. –
209 с.

Семененко Е.В.
Работа профессора судебной медицины Н. С. Бокариуса в области
изучения вещественных доказательств
Харьковский национальный медицинский университет, Украина
Резюме. Статья посвящена деятельности выдающегося ученого судебного
медика и криминалиста Николая Сергеевича Бокариуса. В статье
рассматривается работа Н. С. Бокариуса по изучению вещественных
доказательств. Проанализированы фундаментальные научные труды
Н. С. Бокариуса, в которых содержатся многие новые на то время концепции по
исследованию вещественных доказательств.
Ключевые слова: судебная медицина, криминалистика, вещественные
доказательства.
Семененко О.В.
Робота професора судової медицини М. С. Бокаріуса в галузі вивчення
речових доказів
Харківський національний медичний університет, Україна
Резюме. Стаття присвячена діяльності видатного вченого судового медика і
криміналіста Миколи Сергійовича Бокаріуса. У статті розглядається робота Н.
С. Бокаріуса з вивчення речових доказів. Проаналізовано фундаментальні
наукові праці Н. С. Бокаріуса, в яких містяться багато нових на той час
концепцій з дослідження речових доказів.
Ключові слова: судова медицина, криміналістика, речові докази.

Received: 26.12.2014 Accepted: 6.03.2015

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