76 



SGIENGE. 



[N. S. Vol. III. No. 55. 



decent burial. I, myself, would go so far 

 as to have the bodies of Protestants and 

 Catholics buried in their respective ceme- 

 teries, when the creed of the deceased is 

 known. It also should be understood that 

 no wanton insult is permitted in reputable 

 schools. 



From careful observation I am convinced 

 that the policy which will lead to the most 

 satisfactory results is one of complete open- 

 ness, that above all, we should avoid a 

 timidity which shirks discussion of this 

 topic. When we shall show so clearly as 

 to carry conviction, that we have nothing 

 to conceal, a great step will have been 

 taken. I like to boast that the anatomical 

 department of the Harvard Medical School 

 is ready to give an account of everj' body it 

 receives. If there be aught in the manage- 

 ment of dissecting rooms that calls for criti- 

 cism, I would not have reform forced upon 

 us from without. Let us be the first to an- 

 ticipate every reasonable demand. 



It seems to me that this is making every 

 possible concession to the, sentimental side 

 of the question; but another complaint is 

 often made in all honesty, by well-meaning 

 persons, who object that the bodies of tlje 

 poor should be treated otherwise than those 

 of the rich. I reply that no one would 

 reprobate more strongly than I anj'^ law 

 that would allow the taking of the bodies 

 of the poor from their near relatives ; but 

 we must distinguish between the respect 

 due to the feelings of the living and any 

 admission that dissection is in itself an 

 injury to the dead. The former is human- 

 it j^; the latter is superstition, and to my 

 mind a very contemptible one. 



I have alluded to the scandal of body- 

 snatching, but an equally great scandal is 

 its cause ; the want, in many places, of an 

 anatomy act, or the existence of one which 

 the framers and all others know to be in- 

 adequate. This state of affairs is in more 

 respects than one an injury to the com- 



munity. Like a prohibitory law meant to 

 be boasted of on the platform and in the 

 pulpit, but not meant to be inforced, it de- 

 stroys respect for law. It is the bounden 

 duty of authorities of States, without ade- 

 quate provision for dissection, to see that it 

 is not practiced. After all, such communi- 

 ties deserve to be treated by surgeons 

 ignorant of anatomy. 



A radical defect in the laws of many 

 States, otherwise well drawn, is that the 

 delivery to medical schools of unclaimed 

 bodies is optional with superintendents, 

 Boards of Trustees and municipal au- 

 thorities. The result of this is that those 

 in authority very naturally hesitate to do 

 anything for the advancement of science, 

 which not only can be of no "possible ad- 

 vantage to themselves, but may involve 

 them in serious difficulties. The cry of 

 outrage on the poor is a sure card in the 

 hand of the political demagogue, especially 

 when it is raised against some honored in- 

 stitution. It may also be used as a means 

 of annoyance against political opponents. 

 It is far easier, therefore, for those in office 

 to remain quiet and leave scierice to suffer. 

 A mandatory law would free them from all 

 responsibility. ' Thyself shalt see the act,' 

 would be a sufficient answer to all com- 

 plaints. 



Details of law may and must differ with 

 the locality, but a good anatomy act should 

 have the following characteristics : First, 

 it should be just, safeguarding the rights of 

 the poor, and securing decency ; next, that 

 it should be mandatory ; finally, it should 

 be easy of execution. It is our duty in our 

 several States to do our utmost for the pas- 

 sage of a law that shall advance science, 

 protect the grave and do credit to the com- 

 munitJ^ We have not the excuse of older 

 times that the question is a new one. In 

 view of our own shortcomings it behooves 

 us to judge them lightly. For my part, I 

 have far more respect for those who opposed 



