Richard Lancelyn Green Lecture – Marina Stajic

THE STUPEFYING SMELL OF CHLOROFORM AND THE REMARKABLE WORM

The 2010 Richard Lancelyn Green Lecture will be held on Thursday 7th October 2010 at the National Liberal Club at 1, Whitehall Place, London, SW1, at 6.00 for 6.45pm. The National Liberal Club is located on the corner of Whitehall Place and the Victoria Embankment, not far from Embankment Underground Station, and also conveniently placed for Charing Cross main line station. It is usually possible to find a parking space in the vicinity at this time in the evening – although you may have to pay the congestion charge. www.savageclub.com

Members and their guests may opt to attend the meeting only at £8.50, or to dine beforehand at a cost of £35.50 per head. This includes VAT and service but not drinks, which must be paid for on the day. For those who choose to dine, the meal will comprise Chicken Supreme Stuffed with Ricotta, Lemon and Spinach served with a Chive and Tomato Sauce, Fresh Fruit Savarin with Crème Chantilly followed by Coffee and Mints. A vegetarian or fish alternative main course may be ordered in advance – please specify if you want this on the application form. A cash bar will be open in the Smoking Room on the first floor of the building from 6.00pm. After the meeting, members may use the National Liberal Club bar. Dinner will be served promptly at 6.45pm in the David Lloyd George Room, also on the first floor and will be followed by the meeting itself from around 8pm.

Our speaker this year is Marina Stajic, Ph.D., DABFT, ASH, BSI who will enlighten us on is the forcible administration of poisons. The case of Dolsky in Odessa and of Leturier in Montpellier didn't occur to Dr. Stajic at once (or ever), which proves that she is not just any toxicologist.

Dr. Stajic earned her degree in Chemistry from University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia in 1972 and subsequently her doctoral degree in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Maryland in June 1977. In August of that year she joined the Commonwealth of Virginia Bureau of Forensic Science as the head of the Northern Virginia Toxicology Laboratory. After nine years she moved to the staff of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York, as Director of Forensic Toxicology in 1986. She plans, supervises and coordinates all the aspects of toxicologic analyses performed on specimens collected from approximately 5,500 autopsies each year. The laboratory also performs analysis of cases submitted by law enforcement agencies with the purpose of determining the absence or presence of ethanol and other drugs and evaluates their role in modifying human performance or behaviour (primarily as related to operation of motor vehicles and victims of alleged drug facilitated sexual assault). Dr. Stajic was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine (Toxicology) at New York University Medical Center in 1987 and Clinical Professor at PACE University, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Forensic Sciences Program in 2010. She frequently lectures and provides expert testimony in the field of forensic toxicology. She has authored and co-authored numerous scientific articles on the subject of forensic toxicology and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Dr. Stajic has been an active member of many professional organizations throughout her career, notably the American Academy of Forensic Sciences of which she a Fellow and Past President. She was honoured as the recipient of the 1997 AAFS Toxicology Section Alexander O. Gettler Award. Dr. Stajic has been a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, Inc. since 1980 and currently serves as its President.

In Holmesian circles, Dr. Stajic favourite topic is the forceful administration of poisons, but about every fifteen years she does a public demonstration of the Victorian unmentionables. Her BSI investiture as Curare reflects her dabbling with poisons a good deal. Her ASH nom d'aventure is Lady Frances Carfax, not because she is a beautiful woman, still in fresh middle age, but rather because of her daily exposure to chloroform and her close relationship to coffins. Dr. Stajic is a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, an honorary member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of France (Mme Fournaye), a member of several BSI scion societies, a founding member of The Forensic Faces of Sherlock Holmes and a member of a few whimsical societies such as His Last Miaow, The Canonical Capricorns, The Consorts of the Kings of Scandinavia and The Twisted Lips. She is a passionate fan of the New York Yankees and lives in Manhattan with Altamont and Sigerson, her fabulous felines.

Applications should be sent to arrive not later than Thursday 30th September.

Anyone attending a Society function for the first time should bring along and display their yellow cards of introduction, so that we can identify them and introduce them to our members. They should also note that applications are not normally acknowledged nor are tickets sent. We look forward to seeing everyone on the night. If an acknowledgement is required, please provide an e-mail address or a stamped, addressed envelope with your application. Dress is smart casual and gentlemen are asked to wear a jacket and tie. As in most London clubs, tee-shirts and trainers are not acceptable. This is not our rule and we must comply with the club's.

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