At the end of the 18th century, the term ātruth serumā began to be used in forensics. The Italian investigator Monteggia for the first time injected a suspect with opium in order to have his tongue āuntiedā and put all the information that interested law enforcement officers. In scientific circles, obtaining from a person truthful testimonies under the influence of various chemical agents is called drug analysis. The indicated method, as well as hypnosis, is often used in cases where the interrogated for one reason or another is not able to recall any events of interest to the investigation.
Back in the 1920s, Texas doctor E. House conducted research on the use of scopolamine (ātruth serumā) in forensics. The doctor argued that his method was win-win under certain conditions. House talked about how he can get out of the subject all the information that interests him. The doctor was sure that scopolamine would āuntieā the tongue to any person, and the method he developed was as reliable as fingerprinting.
Later it was found that some criminals can lie even under general anesthesia, and people who give true testimonies sometimes get confused while in this state. Today, drug analysis is very rarely used in forensics, however, there is other information that the āserum of truthā is actively used in relation to stubborn offenders.
Interviewees can be a valuable source of information, thanks to which the investigator will focus his efforts in a specific direction of the investigation. According to the legislation of Western countries, drug analysis is carried out in a hospital. Before the implementation of this procedure, a working group is formed, which includes an anesthetist, psychiatrists, representatives of the defense, as well as charges, judges, psychologists, experimental scientists, foreign language experts, and investigators.
It should be noted that a prerequisite for conducting psychoanalysis is scientific usefulness and objectivity, knowledge of the details of the case, as well as personality characteristics of the suspect himself. Professionals argue that this procedure is safe for health, and the truth will certainly be established. All drugs that are used for drug analysis belong to the barbiturate group. These funds are administered intravenously. It can be said that sodium amital, scopalamine and sodium pentothal are ātruth serumā, which is used to obtain true testimonies.
When these drugs are introduced into the body, a twilight state occurs, which is sometimes called āhalf-consciousnessā. In this case, the patientās ācensorship of consciousness" is turned off, and true, deep feelings are released from him.
After drug administration, the suspect is first discussed on neutral topics that are not related to the crime. All readings are recorded. After anesthesia, the suspect is provided with a film on which all his testimonies are available. A professionally conducted interrogation helps investigators obtain facts about the suspect's innocence or guilt.
The āSerum of Truthā was also developed by the Soviet special services. It should be said that our compatriots quite successfully coped with the task. Back in the years of the Second World War, the NKVD had in its arsenal unique means that showed analgesic, tonic, sedative and tranquilizing effects.
Scientists continued to search for ātruth-basedā drugs. In the forties, experts seriously took up the study of mescaline. The specified substance belongs to the group of drugs that are obtained from a Mexican cactus. It has been experimentally proved that under the influence of mescaline, the tongue is āuntiedā and the will completely disappears. However, it exhibits a short-term effect.
American forensics have tested marijuana for the same purpose. The experiments were unsuccessful. A little later, the Americans said that the LSD drug is the āserum of truth.ā At home, it is almost impossible to create the indicated remedy, because even in our time no one will say exactly what this drug is. As such a tool, alcohol can act.