DISSECTION IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF NEW ENGLAND 211 



the promotion of anatomical science. Certain subjects were ex- 

 cepted. A written application by a licensed resident, physician or 

 surgeon was necessary (Chapin, '51; Waite, '45b). 



In 1825, the fee charged for the course in anatomy at the 

 University of Vermont was $14, which was paid to the professor 

 in charge. It was considered a part of his duties to provide 

 cadavers as best he could. 



Between 1820 and 1840, dissection was carried on at the 

 University of Vermont and two other medical colleges within 

 the state. Seven hundred ninety-two students were graduated in 

 medicine by these institutions during this interval. In addition, 

 there were about 800 others who attended anatomical classes 

 but did not complete their medical education in Vermont; still 

 others studied separately under preceptors. It was estimated that 

 about 400 cadavers were utilized by the combined groups. This 

 averaged twenty per year. In the medical colleges, six students 

 commonly dissected on one specimen and fewer with a preceptor, 

 often only one. The law provided only one or two subjects an- 

 nually so that practically all had to be procured illegally; most 

 were obtained within the confines of the state. Since there was 

 conviction for only one body snatching in two decades, it shows 

 that detections of grave robbing with punishment of the offenders 

 were rare. Disinterments were sometimes discovered many years 

 later ^vhen attempts were made to remove the remnants of bodies- 

 from places of original burial to some other location (Waite, '45a). 



There is an instance where a student became a professional 

 resurrectionist in order to help defray his expenses at the Uni- 

 versity School of Medicine. That was in 1872 (May, W. S.: The 

 Country Doctor, quoted by Chapin, '51). His method was to 

 disinter a body in a distant community and send it to the college 

 via train. One of his removals was discovered by friends of the 

 deceased who went to the college, and identified the body. Sus- 

 picion rested on the man in question who left the school and 

 J disappeared from the region. When things quieted down, he 

 ^returned, completed his studies and graduated. 



Another story, told by and involving Dr. A. V. Bowker, 

 p[879, (quoted by Chapin, '51) is as follows: he was ordered by 

 me of the doctors to take a horse and ^vagon and pick up a 



