Body Snatching: The Robbing of Graves for the Education of Physicians in Early Nineteenth Century AmericaAlso called "resurrectionists," body snatchers, were careful not to take anything from the grave but the body--stealing only the corpse was not considered a felony since the courts had already said that a dead body had no owner. ("Burking"--i.e., murder--was the alternative method of supplying "stiffs" to medical schools; it is covered here as well). This book recounts the practice of grave robbing for the medical education of American medical students and physicians during the late 1700s and 1800s in the US, why body snatching came about and how disinterment was done, and presents information on: efforts to prevent the practice, a group of professional grave robbers, and the European experience. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Alexander Monro Almshouse anatomical lectures anatomical material anatomical study anatomists Anatomy Act anatomy laws asylum autopsy body snatching burial ground buried Burke and Hare cadavers cemetery Cincinnati coffin Congressional Cemetery conviction corpse criminals dead bodies death December diary died disease dissecting rooms dissection doctors early Edinburgh Forbes friends grave robbers grave robbing Harrison History of Medicine Holmead's Hospital human bodies Ingalls injected interred John John Scott Harrison located Medical College medical education Medical Journal medical schools medical science medical students mortsafe murder night obtained Ohio Pennsylvania Philadelphia Philip Syng Physick Physick post mortem Potter's Field practice procured professional professor of anatomy promotion of medical removed resurrection resurrectionists riot Robert Knox Samuel David Gross Schlimer Sir Astley snatchers story Street study of anatomy supply surgeon surgery surgical Thomas tion to-night unclaimed dead University Warren Washington William Shippen York young