This chapter provides a general overview of the crime of acid throwing, using statistical evidence from the findings of the 515 cases on which the book is based. It identifies the main urban centres where cases occurred, the sex of victims and perpetrators, and which corrosive fluids were thrown. Although many different substances were used, the most common were the three strong acids (sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric), with vitriol dominating the statistics until the 1940s. The effects of corrosive fluids on the person are described using qualitative evidence from case studies.
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Watson, Katherine D.
Department of History, Philosophy and Culture
Year of publication: 2023Date of RADAR deposit: 2023-04-04