HUMAN DISSECTION IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES 223 



It became customary to make public announcements of 

 courses to be given in practical anatomy, that is, dissection, in 

 New York newspapers. The man who first had the courage to 

 do this was Thomas Wood. The means of communication was the 

 New York Weekly Postboy , dated January 27, 1752. 

 It was written as foJlows (Krumbhaar, '22): 

 "Whereas Anatomy is allowed on all Hands to be the Founda- 

 tion of PHYSICK and SURGERY, and consequently, without 

 SOME knowledge of it, no person can be duly qualified to prac- 

 tice either: This is, therefore, to inform the Publick That a 

 COURSE of OSTEOLOGY and MYOLOGY, is intended to be 

 begun, some Time in February next, in the City of New Bruns- 

 wick, (for which Notice will be given in this Paper, as soon as 

 the proper number have subscribed towards it). In which Course, 

 all the human BONES will be separately examined, and their 

 Connections and Dependencies on each other demonstrated; and 

 all the MUSCLES of a human BODY dissected; the Origin, In- 

 sertion, and Use of each plainly shown. This Course is proposed 

 to be finished in the Space of a Month. 



Thomas Wood, Surgeon 



"Such Gentlemen who are willing to attend this Course, are 

 desired to subscribe their Names as soon as possible, with Mr. 

 Richard Ayscough, Surgeon, at New York or said Thomas Wood, 

 at New Brunswick, paying at the same Time, THREE POUNDS, 

 Proc. and engaging to pay the Sum of Three Pounds more, when 

 the Course is half finished. 



"N.B. If proper Encouragement is given in this Course, he 

 proposes soon after, to go thro' a Course of ANGIOLOGY and 

 NEUROLOGY; and conclude, with performing all the OPERA- 

 TIONS of SURGERY, on a dead body: The Use of which will 

 appear to every Person, who considered the Necessity of having 

 (at least) SEEN them performed, before he presumes to perform 

 them himself on any living Fellow Creature." 



Several incidents occurred in New York City which caused 

 great excitement and attracted wide attention. In the late 1700's, 

 the greatest opposition to dissection existed among the poorer 

 classes, including Negroes. The reason for this was that grave 



