HUMAN DISSECTION IN THE NORTH CENTRAL STATES 235 



the people, that they threatened to destroy the buildings. The 

 officials felt forced to close the college and soon moved it to Cin- 

 cinnati. After changing its name several times, it dissolved in 1939. 



Following this (1840), a bill was introduced into the legis- 

 lature to legalize dissection but it was postponed indefinitely. 



Under somewhat similar circumstances, as had occurred at 

 Worthington, Willoughby Medical College was forced to move 

 to Columbus in 1847; it is now Ohio State University Medical 

 School. 



On October 25, 1845, the citizens of Painesville, Ohio put 

 their feelings in writing, challenging the need of medical schools, 

 in the form of two resolutions, the second of which read as fol- 

 lows: "Resolved: That the depredation of morals consequent upon 

 the disinterment of bodies, and the annihilation of the better 

 feelings and sentiments that usually follow a long familiarity with 

 the horrid dissecting-room, renders it no doubtful question, 

 whether medical colleges are not productive of more mischief than 

 benefit to the country" (Edwards, '51). 



In Cincinnati in 1852, it took only human skeletons to pre- 

 cipitate a mob attack. These were discovered in a small shack, on 

 Walnut Hill Road, bearing the sign of "Chemical Laboratory." 

 When confronted, the owner of the place and his partner fled the 

 scene in horse and buggy. On their way toward the city center, 

 they were arrested for fast driving. This permitted the pursuing 

 crowd to overtake them. Both the officers who now served as 

 defenders, and the pair were badly beaten. Nevertheless, the au- 

 thorities were able to reach the prison where the suspected men 

 were safely ensconced. They were soon freed when it was learned 

 that the bodies, from which the skeletons had been prepared for 

 scientific purposes, had been legally obtained. 



Cincinnati was the habitat of another interesting profes- 

 sional resurrectionist, William Cunningham, who was born in 

 Ireland in 1807; he was known in the trade as "Old Cunny." 

 He was also called "The Ghoul" and "Old Dead Man." Accord- 

 ing to Edwards ('54), he was described by the parents of the ill- 

 behaved children as a bogeyman. As a part-time vocation, he 

 worked at the game of body snatching between 1855 and 1871. 



In many respects, he was the counterpart of the lowest type 



