HUMAN DISSECTION IN SCOTLAND-A.D. 1500 TO 1958 175 



The article by John Wilson (alias Christopher North), Pro- 

 fessor of Moral Philosophy, in Blackxuood's Magazine, published 

 in March of 1829, made every effort to defame the character of 

 Robert Knox. Quoting Lonsdale (1870): "Literary ruffianism is 

 too mild a term to apply to the foul words used by Wilson, who, 

 not content with holding up Knox to public execration, rushed 

 with the savagery of the warhoop and tomahawk upon an un- 

 offending anatomical class for showing an affectionate re.eard for 

 their great teacher." 



Some of Knox's friends took matters into their own hands 

 and selected an agent, a Mr. Ellis, to make a rigid and unsparing 

 examination into the facts. This gentleman appeared before the 

 Dean of Faculty, at the University of Edinburgh, and other coun- 

 sel. He gave it as his belief that no grounds existed for action and 

 that Dr. Knox should resist the temptation of carrying his case 

 to court. The latter was to be avoided because the disclosure of 

 even the most innocent proceedings in a dissecting-room would be 

 a shock to the public and harmful to anatomical science. The 

 faculty decided to recommend that a few distinguished persons, 

 whose opinions carried undoubted weight, be asked to investi- 

 gate the matter. This led to the appointment of a special com- 

 mittee, consisting of nine members, chaired by Dr. Robinson, 

 Secretary of the Royal Society of Surgery. 



This committee made an extensive examination of the evi- 

 dence from every quarter. Their report stated that there was no 

 indication that either Dr. Knox, or his assistants, knew that mur- 

 der was committed when the subjects reached his laboratory. It 

 intimated that there was, however, circumstantial evidence which 

 should have excited suspicion of foul play, that is, the freshness 

 and unmarked condition of the bodies. They were convinced that 

 neither Knox, his assistants or students, harbored any doubts, 

 nor did they attempt to disfigure the features which might have 

 prevented detection. Further, they expressed the opinion that 

 Knox, and particularly his aides, might have been more cautious 

 m their dealings with Burke and Hare, that too ready an ear was 

 iven to the plausible stories of the murderers. The 1,140 word 

 jport concluded with the statement that Knox could be blamed 

 )r laxity of regulation under which the cadavers were received 



