HUMAN DISSECTION IN ENGLAND-A.D. 1510 to 1958 I49 



coffin would be screwed down tightly on Saturday evening. If it 

 ^vere, he wanted to be notified and he would not take action un- 

 less it was done. The cover was fastened as he predicted. 



Late, on Saturday night, Patrick was admitted to the parlor 

 l>y his associate. Without the aid of a light, the screws binding 

 down the top of the coffin were released. After the body was re- 

 moved, a carefully calculated amount of earth, obtained from 

 the garden, was substituted. The lid was replaced and attached, 

 lollowing which, the black velvet funeral cloth was thrown over 

 the casket. The subject was transferred to a crude box, passed 

 out of the window, and hidden in a tool house some distance from 

 the premises. The pair witnessed the entire ceremony, from the 

 sidelines, and saw that their plan had been successful, working 

 without a hitch. On the day after the burial, the stolen specimen 

 was transported to one of the private anatomical schools; Patrick 

 received the handsome sum of 15 guineas, or more than $75, for 

 the subject (Guttmacher, '35). 



An instance is cited by Lonsdale (1870), in regard to the 

 dangers incurred by surgeons who attempted to capture the body 

 of a hanged criminal for the purpose of making a subsequent dis- 

 section. This particular incident occurred about 1830 in the city 

 of Carlisle, England, located adjacent to the Scottish border. 

 Friends of the condemned culprit laid in wait for the medical men, 

 determined to revenge themselves if the body was touched. In 

 the ensuing events, the doctors were seriously injured. A Dr. An- 

 derson was shot in the face and carried the marks inflicted to his 

 grave. Another surgeon was found dead, by the side of a bridge, 

 his body having been thrown over the railing. Apparently, these 

 defenders preferred seeing such a man hanging in chains on a 

 public road, certain to be devoured by vultures, than being 

 anatomized by doctors for the advancement of medical science. 

 This caused great excitement, particularly to Lonsdale, since the 

 shooting occurred about 100 yards from his father's door. 



By 1828, London had eight private and four hospital medi- 

 cal schools. In addition to St. Bartholomew and St. Thomas, previ- 

 ously mentioned, there were two other hospital institutions: Guy's 

 and The London. The larger private ones were the following 

 with their owners: Webb Street School, Mr. Grainger; Aldergate 



