Star.
London, England, 1829-07-17 00:00:00

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ROB,. W AR RE N'B,llo, STRAND.
ALL 0111 W AU COVITIMIZIIM

ON THE DISSECTION OF THE HUMAN
BODY.
A pamphlet, pot together with great ability and good
sense, on the above subject, and having in the title-page
for its author the name of GRACCHUS, wail yesterday
handed into our office. There are few topics of public
discussion more interesting, or more important, than this
one of dissection ; but we have neither the time, nor space,
necessary to the development of our own views upon the
matter. Suffice it only to say, that we are among those
who could never be reconciled to the Act attempted to
be introduced last Session, by which the bodies of the
unclaimed poor, who might din in workhouses, would be-
come forfeited to the knife of the dissector. That some
better regulation, by which our echoola of anatomy may
be supplied with subjects iu sufficient quantity should be
devis, we are also of opinion ; but the specific measure
proposed by GRACCII US appears to us defective, and in-
adequate in every way. Let him, however, now speak
for himself : his pamphlet is in the form of an epistle,
addressed familiarly to JOIIN BULL—indeed. we may as
well give the title of it at once—" A Letter to Jou
BULL on the Dissection of his Body."
Dundee, then, ought to go on. Facilities for its performuce
should be afforded to an medical practitioner, while they are stu-
dents, in order that they may-acquire the knowledge ; and while
they are engaged in practice, in order that they may retain what
they have learnt, improve their tact, and extend still further the
science they profess.
The subject kaoline command so fully of late. that it is scarcely
necessary to sheen* that the present mode of earrying on dime-
don is extremely objectinable. The bodies that are obtained for
that purpose are in an offensive state, and often so muck decomposd
as to be of little utility. Their price is so high as to bold out a
temptation to the medical student to three through his education
with as !bile diuectioo as possible; and it operates en the majority
of established practkinervt,se as to deter than altogether from the
practice. The supply too of these imitative and deteriorated bodies
is quite inadequate to the actual domed, and infinitely below what
science requires. The practice of exhumation, with its high pay
and lenient punishment, sends to encourage a race of lawless des.
peruke. who are described even by the surgeons employing dime. I
as the wont sort of charactem, and by oca mother as thieves and
burglars.
Them serious grievances have been long Ws and often emplaned
of, Out with your usual 'spines's' you have tensed a deaf ear to
whatever has ben said epos th. wbject. At kitsch nether little
item has been added to the inconveniences of the present system,
namely, that it holds out $ powerkl temptation to the commissiou
of murder. I sie sat mess to Wren that see half is true that you-
have beard on this subjess. Few men, if any, have bees Flamed in
the altuadoo of Berke sad Hue. Those who have 'ranched St
bodies ban always hen msurrectivi-inen. knows as such by their
employers; sad those were, I believe, without exception. 'weevils
of murder because they hada safe.. mores. Is is an appeal they
to your passions toenail's the alas* a' Berke as TOT that has ben
frequent or is lately to be ekes repute.). With the escapism of
what came oat on Ms trial there is use the slightest reason to be.
neve murder keener bees perpetrated for the price of the victim's
body. But. sir, this is a (1.-goad exception. I have so win us
appeal either to your passion or prejudices. but I must remark that
you are wen to be chary of shedding blood, and that the briskest
trait is your character has ever been the anxiety with which you
watched over human Wls and the vehement lodigoatiou and an.
corn severity with which yowhave honied dove those who
have attack it. It is no Lusty so my that you an as human
u you are brave; sad that you may fairly lads* a sating vanity
is the reneetima that year Least beats with • stronger sympathy fur
your fellow men than is manifested in your neighbours. Toe ought
not thou to be misled wish the rellectioe that your indulges/it in
prejudice will sot be followed by frequent murder. " Lay not t:itt
nattering section a yoar seal," that the mains of lowa decree.
don will be wanting because the sergeon will is future be careful
Shay sle we* yosiliwiy bane the diatoms betweeu a body dead of dis-
order and one which has been strangled. Prom dm is time you
hear ef these things being repassed, and on your bead shall he the
crime. Consider human natures and madder the Insaluiss of the
temptation. Hen hays bees murdered bachaeously fee a few shil-
ling*, and the body left reposed to scrutiny. and busing evident
marks of ',Went death. Here any ?wads are soloed. tad. the
body being removed, the public remains sot only igaossat of the
mode of death, but nee of the death altogether. I. k sot stem
that in the amen of things the crime will endow
I am sure I used say so more so Waving you that something
must be done, but I have still to show why that something mast he-
dime byre. I know you dislike this subject; thse,:ios would
fain blink its consideration. and leave it to be seeded by she managers
of your estate sad the surpass la the quietest owner. But if I'
wasted any reason against this, your own cosdeet has furnished
me with one; for the very Ins step these pontlemes attempted So
take you began to grumble. The fact is. in legislating on this point
two series of leas are required to be knows—lkst, what is neces-
sary for the demands of science; and secondly. what is the be*
way of meeting your feelings in complying wick those demands...-
The surgeons may be considered pretty good iodise of the liras
point, though not so much so bat that their opinions must he mach
more to be relied on when they have bees universally sad riLlicly
discussed, than when their agitation bas been mined to surgical
meetings and journals, or to the nomination of a few tarpons
before the managers. But as to the second point, it is quite eke/
that neither surgeon nor manager can judge so perfectly what'
measure will suit your feelings and prejudices as yourself, and no
one can inform them on this subject except yourself. Speak oat
then—tell them what you want. If it be your pleasure that ex-
humation, thieving.resurrectin-ones, bad surgery, and foul murders
shall continue, signify that wish to your house at managers. If you
like to banish all education, with its emoluments and advantages,
to France and Germany, say so. If you will not give op the bodies
of the poor for dissection, whose will you give op ? Speak. We
are bound to hear. In order to assist you in answering this question
I Will sow unfold, as far as Ism able, the whole of the case, in all
its bearings,
WITT IT TO SS DONS?

All these alternatives present tbemeeleee-1. Forbidding dissec-
tion altogether, and sending all students to foreign lands for in-
struction. it. Giving up the bodies of suicides and all persons exe-
cuted, or otherwise dying whilst suffering the punishments of the
law. 3. Making use of the bodies of surgeons, either with or
without those of the preceding class. 4. Giving up the bodies for
dissection of those who die unclaimed in the workhouses. S. Le-
galising the sale of dead bodies. O. Legalising exhumation. 7.
PAMUM MY W.L.
L The lint alternative is so utterly absurd, that it scarcel to.
quires refutation. If the whole world did not laugh, they
monde( to be behind band in the affectation of sensibility—pr-
imp follow our example, and medical science retrograde, and
human misery increase in corresponding prepordon. If we sub-
mined to their derision, still the notion of importing accomplished
surgeons is ridiculous. However well informed they might be on
their arrival, medicine and surgery will require to be kept up, and
can only be kept up by constant labour; ao that, in &a, every
hour of their practice they would degenerate rather than improve.
11. To adopt the second alternative Is, in pint of fact, to do
nothisg; for the supply, being a mere fraction of what is required.
could be of we possible use, and the old practice of exhumation
would be resorted to • but as it would be more dangerous bodies
would be higher priced, and consequently the temptation to murder
Man.
lIL The same objection may be made to the proposal of using
surgeons' bedius—osmely, that they are too few; and another may
be added, whieb, by the way, applies also to suicides-that the
law would meter be enforced. A surgeon Is married, and has a
family brew* up in geed society, with all the feelings and preju-
dices of that eitchrty. Wadies; wise is to go to kis widow in the
bow .1 atiietiaa, and tear from her the body of her husband, if
she wished to retain tt for burial? No one--at least no sorgeon.
And of mane, with all the prejudices of her sex and edocadoo,
she would wish to retain it; for thanes be has been fatale, with
dimsetion. she Ms ant.
IV. The fourth alternative, that of 'Meg up the bodies of the
unbiased pow fee dinnetin, has something very horrible oa the
bee of it to any may who fob and reveretwes the spin sit the