144 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



stroyed identification and removed the flesh. One disadvantage of 

 this procedure was the brown discoloration of the bones which re- 

 mains to this day. Many individuals have had a view of the skele- 

 ton of the giant, O'Brien, placed vividly in the background of 

 the famous portrait of Hunter by Sir Joshua Reynolds. 



That some attempts were made to make the dissecting en- 

 vironment seem favorable is indicated in a public advertisement 

 of Joshua Brookes in 1814, a proprietor of one of the largest of 

 the private schools. He mentioned spacious apartments, thor 

 oughly ventilated and replete with every convenience, including 

 private chambers for the gentlemen established in practice, who 

 desired to renew their anatomical knowledge. 



Joshua Brookes was classified as one of the best private 

 teachers of practical anatomy in London and was a character unto 

 himself. To mention his oddities and possible shortcomings first, 

 he is described as one of the dirtiest professional men ever seen 

 by some of his contemporaries. In the laboratory his hands and 

 wearing apparel were always filthy and he utilized his fingers in 

 constantly conveying snuff to his nose; as a result, this part of 

 his anatomy was invariably soiled. It was always a surprise to his 

 friends to see him immaculate, not only because of its extreme 

 rarity, but because he emerged as a new person: pleasant, dressed 

 in black, with powdered hair, presentable hands, good manners 

 and well-informed on conversational matters. However, in this 

 circumstance, the snuff habit was as evident as ever (Guttmacher, 

 •35; Rolleston, '39). 



In spite of these traits, Brookes' School, located on Great 

 Marlborough Street, attracted a large audience of students, con 

 siderably more than the hospital institutions. Part of this was diu 

 to the fact that his establishment was open the year round. He 

 was one of the pioneers using embalming as a means of preserva- 

 tion, which enabled him to conduct a summer course; the formula 

 he kept secret. The only other method then available was by 

 salting, which was grossly inefficient. In some cadavers, he injec ted 

 the arteries with hot wax in order that they might more easily 

 be followed in anatomizing but for these specimens the dissectinu 

 fee was increased by one guinea (Guttmacher, *35; Rolleston, 

 •39; Wakley, 1829). 



