History of Science 2220 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Body Snatching

• School: Western University
• Department: History of Science
• Course: History of Science 2220
• Professor: Dorotea Gucciardo

Document Summary

Said that people would steal then sell these items to medical students for example. The one doctor was sentenced to 3 months in the common jail. 2 steal body at midnight they did this to use the body for anatomical teaching. 19th century there were grave robbers, they did this to provide subjects for medical students. Even when detected by the police, the crime virtually was never prosecuted. The things were seen as property to medical students like clothing, jewelry. Body snatchers were found only if the culprit were found in the cemetery or if they left behind an unfilled grave or other clear evidence that the grave was dug up. West of kingston: canadian rifle corps were raised from their graves and it was heard that two medical students were caught, unsure of the third. Found a body and this body was being using for anatomical purposes. Evidence from 1885 that toronto medical students were desperately short.