252 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



were originally designed for private gain and which were con- 

 sidered to be such a bane by the American Medical Association 

 back in 1904. The number of medical schools have been reduced 

 by about one-half, from 159 in 1901 to 81 in 1958. Between 1901 

 and 1940, there were eighty-two medical schools which closed their 

 doors because of inability to meet the new standards imposed on 

 them. Recently, there has been a trend toward the organization 

 of new medical schools. 



Further, there has been a shortening of the hours devoted 

 to gross anatomy from about 900 (Bardeen, '08-'09) to an average 

 of 330 (Turner, '56). This has been due to the growth of histology, 

 neuroanatomy, embryology and other subjects in the basic sciences. 



In spite of a decrease in the medical schools existing in the 

 United States from 159 to 81, during the past half-century, the 

 number of total freshman students enrolled has more than doubled 

 whereas the average per class has nearly tripled. With a total of 

 7,576 such pupils in the eighty-one approved medical schools of 

 the United States, in 1955, this would mean that about 3,800 

 suitable dissecting cadavers would be required for the ideal ar- 

 rangement of two working on one subject and half that number 

 for four on one. Some schools, interested in teaching anatomy for 

 dentists, embalmers or postgtaduates, would need perhaps more 

 than double the number used for the first year medical class. 

 These values do not take into account the fact that some cadavers, 

 when received, are of such quality that they must be discarded. 

 It can be estimated that a minimum of about 5,000 subjects arc 

 annually needed for an all-around, first-rate program for the 

 teaching of practical anatomy in medical and dental institutions 

 alone. 



Probably the most important factor in the matter of obtain 

 ing an adequate supply of cadavers to fill all requirements revolves 

 around the status of the anatomical laws in the various states which 

 have medical and dental schools. 



Jenkins ('13) made a study of the legal status of dissedion 

 in 1913 by sending out a questionnaire to the medical schools in 

 the United States. He stated that only recently (prior to 1913) 

 had any worthwhile anatomical laws been enacted. Before these 

 body snatcliing was common, the demands for bodies grew, th( 



