[XIX] 



HUMAN DISSECTION IN THE EAST 

 NORTH CENTRAL STATES 



Xhese states comprise Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and 

 Wisconsin. A total of 135 medical schools have existed in this re- 

 gion at one time or another of which thirteen now remain. Most 

 of the factual knowledge available, in respect to human dissection, 

 revolves around the states of Ohio and Illinois. 



A. Dissection in Ohio-A.D. 1810 to 1880 



Of the forty-two medical schools which have been established 

 in the State of Ohio, three now survive. Considerable informa- 

 tion has been published on the status of human dissection there 

 particularly by Edwards ('50-'51, '51, '54). 



Body snatching was recognized early by the people of certain 

 regions in Ohio. In 1811, before the organizing of medical schools, 

 a robbed grave was discovered during the winter in the city of 

 Zanesville. A wheelbarrow was the vehicle used to transport the 

 body, which left a track in the snow. By following it, searchers 

 were led to a hotel which served as a residence for three medical 

 apprentices. The mob broke into the building and found the 

 stolen body placed behind some logs in the basement. A shambles 

 was made of the hotel. 



The state legislature tried to do something about resurrection 

 in 1831 when it passed a law subjecting those found guilty of 

 body snatching to a fine up to $1,000 or thirty days imprisonment. 

 This was amended in 1839, making the sentence one to three 

 years in the penitentiary. It, apparently, did not stop the practice 

 since an angry crowd gathered at the Worthington Medical Col- 

 lege, organized in 1831 for the purpose of protesting recent grave 

 robberies carried on by the school. So emotionally aroused were 



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