Resurrectionists in the United Kingdom

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Resurrectionists in the United Kingdom

Resurrectionists were individuals in the United Kingdom who engaged in the practice of exhuming recently buried bodies to sell them to anatomists and medical schools for dissection. This practice was most prevalent during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period when the demand for cadavers for medical research and education far exceeded the legal supply.

Historical Context

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the study of anatomy became increasingly important in the medical field. However, the only legal source of bodies for dissection was the corpses of executed criminals, which were insufficient to meet the needs of burgeoning medical schools. This shortage led to the rise of resurrectionists, also known as "body snatchers."

Methods

Resurrectionists typically worked in gangs and operated at night. They would dig up freshly buried bodies, often within days of interment, to ensure the cadavers were in good condition. The bodies were then sold to anatomy schools and surgeons who required them for teaching and research purposes. The practice was illegal, but the high demand and substantial profits made it a lucrative, albeit risky, endeavor.

Notable Cases

One of the most infamous cases involving resurrectionists was the Burke and Hare murders in Edinburgh during the 1820s. Unlike typical resurrectionists, William Burke and William Hare resorted to murder to supply bodies to Dr. Robert Knox, a prominent anatomist. Their actions led to public outrage and increased scrutiny of the body trade.

Legislation and Decline

The public outcry over body snatching and the Burke and Hare case led to the passage of the Anatomy Act 1832. This legislation allowed for the legal donation of bodies to medical science and provided a regulated supply of cadavers, effectively ending the need for resurrectionists. The Act permitted unclaimed bodies from workhouses and hospitals to be used for dissection, significantly reducing the incidence of grave robbing.

Cultural Impact

The activities of resurrectionists have had a lasting impact on popular culture and literature. They have been depicted in various works, including Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's The Body Snatcher. The fear and fascination with body snatching have also influenced Gothic fiction and horror genres.

See Also

• Anatomy Act 1832
• Burke and Hare murders
• Body snatching
• History of anatomy
• Medical education in the United Kingdom