138 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



Rolfe, apparently, was a poor choice; he developed a reputation 

 for neglecting his duties and was warned of this in 1722; in 1728, 

 the chair was declared vacant. One of the criticisms leveled against 

 him was that a public anatomy was not held annually (Macalister, 

 1891). 



William Cheselden (1688-1752), surgeon and writer, and a 

 pupil of William Cowper (1666-1709), British surgeon, was called 

 before representative members of the Barber-Surgeon's Company 

 in 1714 to explain why he had been dissecting the bodies of exe- 

 cuted criminals for three years in his home and teaching from 

 them without the guild's consent. This practice, it was claimed, 

 cut down the number of subjects at the Hall. Because of his gay 

 and genial manner, which made him extremely popular with 

 everyone, he was forgiven, but fined; he was then given permis- 

 sion to present regular lectures at his house and at St. Thomas' 

 Hospital. Although he had plenty of opportunities, he made no 

 outstanding anatomical discoveries. This decision, on the part 

 of the Company, led to a gradual relaxation of their standards, 

 which encouraged the establishment of private dissecting-rooms 

 and schools. It made matters more complex by creating an addi- 

 tional demand for bodies and providing the impetus for body 

 snatching. The dissolution of the Barber-Surgeon's Company in 

 1745 ended their monopoly of anatomical teaching which had 

 lasted for 205 years (Ball, '28; Dobson, '51; Guttmacher, '35; 

 Rolleston, '39). 



Obtaining the bodies of executed criminals by legal methods, 

 not only provided inadequate material but when all the costs 

 were added up, it was relatively expensive. Money had to be doled 

 out to various persons and for suitable equipment: for a horse, 

 coach, coffin, funeral and a certificate; and to such individuals 

 as sheriffs, two beadles and their assistant, one who washed the 

 body, a minister, clerk, sexton, the bearers and a charwoman. 

 The total might amoimt to as much as 16 pounds. 



In addition to the dearth of subjects, difTi( ulty was encoun- 

 tered in filling the posts of Master and Stewards of anatomy, men 

 regarded as important in preparing bodies for both private and 

 public anatomies who were assigned the duty of obtaining ca- 

 davers through legal sources. A new regulation, issued in 1734, 



