196 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



most invaluable of all human blessings will cease to be treated 

 with neglect and indifference, and the means of education prepara- 

 tory to the practice of that profession which regards the lives 

 of our fellow creatures, shall command an attention and counte- 

 nance at least equal to that which has for its object the precarious 

 tenure of interest and property .... 



"The exquisite harmony and perfection by which the various 

 parts of this complicated system are adapted to each other must 

 fill us all with the most exalted ideas of the skill and wisdom of 

 its architect. By inquiring into it and an acknowledgement of 

 it, is a rational Tribute, to the omnipotent author. 



"The investigation, by instructing us in the knowledge of 

 ourselves, must evince the position, that Man has been the special 

 care of Heaven. The structure of the body and the faculties of 

 the soul are a full proof of divine attention and the considera- 

 tion must inspire us with sentiments which will naturally be 

 productive of worthy actions .... 



"There is every excitement to diligence, perseverance, and 

 believe me the present is the only time for laying in a sure 

 foundation for its splendid superstructure . . ." (Warren, 1860). 



These views of John Warren suggest he held a profound 

 reverence for the human body and its architecture and that he 

 felt its anatomy was the keystone to medicine. 



One of the fortunate consequences of the Revolution, from 

 the standpoint of anatomy, was to dispel some of the public 

 prejudice against human dissection. Between 1782 and 1810, 

 however, there was still some disapproval of the practice and 

 many considered it a heinous and impious act. During the early 

 part of his teaching career, Warren, found complete subjects 

 for human dissection scarce and he had, of necessity, to use 

 preserved, anatomical parts and other demonstration material. 



Besides the bodies of a few executed criminals, an additional, 

 though limited, supply was made obtainable in Massachusetts. 

 All of the colonies had enacted laws against the practice of duel- 

 ing during the 18th Century. In 1784, the state legislature re- 

 vised theirs in a statute entitled, "An Act of Dueling." One of 

 the provisions of this act was that a slain duelist should either be 

 buried in a public place, without a coffin, with a stake driven 



