Alexander Gettler, American Forensic Toxicologist

Alexander Gettler, American Forensic Toxicologist

Alexander Oscar Gettler (August 13, 1883 - August 4, 1968) was a toxicologist with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of NYC (1918-59). His work at OCME with Charles Norris, chief medical examiner, created the foundation for modern medicolegal investigation in the US and Gettler has been described by peers as "the father of forensic toxicology in America." He often had to create new tests to isolate poisons and regularly experimented by poisoning raw liver and attempting to isolate ever-smaller amounts of poison from it. In the 1920s, Gettler took the post of professor of chemistry at Washington Square College of New York University. At the same time he held a post at the New York University Graduate School. There, Gettler established a toxicology course in 1935. That same year he became the first scientist to use a spectrometer in a criminal investigation. He retired from the office of the medical examiner on January 1, 1959, when he was 75. He died in 1968 at the age of 84.

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26.8 x 35.6 cm | 10.6 x 14.0 in (300 dpi)