Star.
London, England, 1828-08-29 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PAPER.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the manner of
obtaining Subjects for Dissection in the Schools of Anatomy.
gad into the State Si the Law affecting.the Persons employed in
obtaining or Dissecting Bodies; and to whom several Petitions
for the removal of Impediments to the cultivation of the Science
el Anatomy were referred ; and who were empowered to report
the hfinetes of Evidence taken before them ;—Have, pursuant to
the Order of the House examined the matters to them referred,
Mud agreed to the Moe:Mg Report :
(Coetinoed ttom the STAR of yesterday.)
EVIDENCE.
Slr ASTLET COOPER, Bert. examined.

Are not many operations now performed, in conse-
quence of the increased knowledge of dissection, that
were formerly too difficult ?—With respect to opera-
tions, I wish to-state, that if Mr. Hunter, who was the
Either of modern surgery, were at this moment to rise
from the grave, he would not believe in the improve-
ments which have taken place since his death, which
occurred $4 years ago ; and if you ask for an illustra-
tion of this, I will mention an instance. A man, when
I was fir st at St. Thomas's Hospital, which was in the
year 1784, used to exhibit himself, aad receive money
from the students for the exhibition, because he was
one of those remarkable persons who had recovered
from an operation for what surgeons called popliteal
aneurism, wnich disease arises from the giving way of
an artery in the ham, and for which it is required that
the 'artery of the thigh should be tied. This man had
the artery tied, and recovered. At the present moment
there is not an individual who is educated in London
viho would not be ashamed of himself if he could not
Perform that operation, or tie any of the accessible ar-
teries in the body. Sorgery is also improved in the
diminution of operations; for at the time at which I
first entered the profession, I should say there were at
least three operations for one at the present moment;
at that time, a man who had an injury to his head was
very generally trephined ; but now that operation is
rarely petfurmed. At that time limbs were amputated
for compound dislocations, but DOW very rarely.
Can bodies be obtained in such numbers at present
that it frequently happens that the students have an
opportunity of pesforrrsing Close operations upon a
deed body ?—lt now very rarely happens that a student

ing considerable talents, who, the moment he was op
posed by others, burst into the places in which bodies
were contained, and spoiled them for dissection, and
did not hesitate to commit burglarious acts for that put-
pose; or if there was a party of persons disposed' o op-
pose him, he excited a riot against those individuals,
and pointed them out as bad characters and as resursee!
lion men ; and the Magistrates in the Borough were
under the necessity very often of settling those (Jiff.•
rences—the result of which was the present expense of
dissection, because it was impossible to compete with a
clever fellow, who was also a man of property ; and
this man therefore had the power of raising the price of
subjects as he pleased, and of obliging one lecturer and
opposing another.
Since the time when this person flourished, has not
the difficulty arising out of one gang opposing another
occasioned an increase of price ?—The possibility o(
obtaining a supply of bodies from London burial-
grounds is almost destroyed.
Have you beard of any understanding existing be-
tween the persons who carry on these practices and the
searons or other parish officers ?—The sextons and
grave-diggers are always in pay, as far as I have heard;
indeed, I have no idea of their being able to procure a
body, except occasionally, without it; it is true that a
man may go to a church-yard and take a body, and
leave the grave disturbed till the grave-digger views it
in the morning ; but be cannot take a body without the
grave-siigger being informed of it, or suspecting it.
Are not the lecturers frequently now obliged to wait
for bodies before they can proceed with their come?
—At the presei?t moment I learn that it is so; it has
very frequently happened so to myself, to be obliged to
alter the order of my course on this account.
What observations have you been led to make on the
characters of the exhumators, and what do you under-
stand to be their ordinary occupations?—The lowest
dregs of degradation; I do not know that I can de-
scribe them better; there is no crime they would not
commit ; and as to myself, if they should imagine that
I should make a good subject, they really would not
have the smallest scruple, if they could do the thing
undiscovered, to snake a subject of me.
What have professional men generally understood re
be the law on the subject of receiving into their possess
non, for the purpose of dissection, the bodies of persons
who have been disinterred? have they known that for
so doing they were liable to an indictment for a mis-
demeanour?—Until I read the charge of Baron Hul-
lock, I did not understand that a surgeon was exposed
to any danger from dissection, therefore I have never
concealed dissection in my own house. 1 had a room
in my own house in the city, in which it was very well
known that dissections were conducted; I did not then
know that I was amenable to the law, but now I should
be afraid to have a body in my possession.
Have you any idea of the number of Englishmen
studying surgery in the foreign schools?—lt is very
difficult to ascertain precisely, but there are about 150
in Paris.
What is your opinion of the policy of giving up the
bodies of murderers for dissection, as it affects the feel-
ings of the public on the subject of dissection ?—The
law of enforcing the dissection of murderers is the
greatest stigma on anatomy which it receives, and is
extremely injurious to science.
The objections you have made to the dissection of
murderers would also apply to the dissection of sui-
cides, in case, by any alteration of the law, their bodies
also were to be given up for dissection?—l conceive the
great principle on this question is this, that dissection
should never outrage the feelings of the living ; if,
therefore, a surgeon could gain possession of the bodies
of suicides, it would certainly distress the feelings of
their relatives, and on that ground there is a great ob-
jection, to it ; in the second place, I would say, they
would make very bad subjects, because all persons whb
die suddenly become soon putrid ; and, in the third, if
it had any moral tendency in preventing suickless it
would soon destroy any supply from that source.
What is the amber of unclaimed persons dying in

the hospitals in London ?—I believe that at least be-
tween 20 and 30 persons die in the winter and spring.
in every hospital in London, containing 400 beds, who
are unclaimed by their relations. •
Do yotkbelieve that such unclainibd bodies might he
rendered available for anatomical purposes?—That
will depend upon the circumstance of the treasurer or
governors being men of sense or not. As no person's
feelings would be outraged, there would be no reason-
able objection to it.
What can you state as to the supply that may be ob-
tained by importing dead bodies either from Ireland or
from the Continent?—Unless there was some better
lenode than that which is at present adopted, importation
would furnish a very small and insufficient supply ; but
I conceive that perhaps a Director of Anatomy might
be appointed by the Secretary of State, who should be
enabled to receive bodies at the Custom-house; other-
wise importation would give such an opportunity for'
smuggling, that I think there would be very consider.
able objection to that mode of supply.
Do you happen to be aware that the greater number,
of the bodies which have actually been imported have
*relived In such a state that very few of them were fit
'for the dissecting-room ?—I understand that to be the,
case, but there are means of preparing bodies so as to
enable them to last for a very considerable time.
So that if a system for importing bodies could be
organized, to a certain degree, tinder the protection of
Government, you think that difficulty might in s ime
measure be surmounted?—lt would be a very desir-
able mode of supply, and I think difficalties might be
overcome.
Are you aware of the price of a body in France ?
The price of a body in France has been upon the aver-
age seven francs.
JOHN ABERNETHY, Esq. examined.
Will you state your opinion as tr the importance of
dissection for students in anatomy, surgery, and medi-
cine?—lt is of the highest importance to the public ; '
nothing in life, I believe, can be considered as more
ine-
portant ; it is the foundation of all medical knowledge.
Anatomical knowledge is not merely requisite in order
that we may perform operations successfully, but it is
the foundation of physiology; and the knowledge of the
structure and functions of the organs and parts of the
body is the sole source of our knowledge of disease.
You would state it therefore generally to be your
opinion that the practice of dissection must be protected
and encouraged under any circumstances ?—Ui.ques-
tionably ; it would be little less than the commission of
murder not to do it ; it would be a cause of the greatest
aggravation of human sufferings.—l think that iA hat is
done in Dublin ought to be attended to by persons in
this country; in Dublin, it is directed that the paupers
buried at the public charge should be interred at a dis-
tance from the city. Tire Magistrates of that country
have the good sense to perceive that k is not right to
punish, with the utmost severity of the law, the trespass
of disinterring some of those bodies, when the act is so
indispensably requisite to the nearest and dearest in-
terests of every living being. The law remains ; they
may punish the trespass with great severity, if they
find it has been conducted indecorously, or without the
utmost possible attention to conceal it from the public.
The knowledge of this fact excites no inquietude in the
mind of the poorer classes of society ; they think not of
it. Bodies are distributed by the police in Paris, and
in other places, at noon-day ; they are seat in covered
carts, on which is written pour le service Hotel de .Dieu,
or any other hospital, and they scarcely attract the at-
tention of those who pass them ; I state this to show
how soon the public mind accommodates itself to cir-
cumstances. If the directors of eleemosynary establisLei
ments would but agree to consign the bodies cf friend-
less paupers as subjects of dissection, I have no doubt
that they would be fully sufficient for the exigencies of
medical science.
Do you deem the continuance of the practice of dis-
section so important, that, if no supply of bodies could
,be obtained in any other manner, you would think it
wise to go on tolerating the practice of exhumation ?
Unquestionably ; for I see that the welfare of society
is vitally concerned in the attainment of anatomical
knowledge.
Would you prefer any other means of obtaining a
supply ?—No doubt, there would be no exhumation
if this was conceded. •
What is the number of subjects that a student in sur-
gery, for his complete education, ought to dissect ?—I
think with Mr. Brodie upon this subject, that if two
students were to dissect a body yearly, i bserving at the
same time the dissections made by others, and that et ei
were two years in completing their educition, and had
likewise a third body allowed for the performance of
operations, they would become very competent sur-
geons; I will not say perfect surgeons, because the
:labour of an education to qualify a man to be a per-
rectly good surgeon is beyond all belief; halt his life
must be consumed me he can be considered as a
proficient.
What is your opinion of the character of those persons
who are employed as exhumators?—That they are a
very bad set of men.
Do they even act with good faith to the Gentlemen
who employ them?—lt cannot be expected tlra; they
should.
Is it not the case that they sometimes give informa-
tion against the very persons whom they undeit ike to
supply ?-4 cannot accuse them of any breach of faith
with myself?
Do you think that the facility to procure dead bodies
would be increased if the stigma attaching to the .di.-
section of murderers were removed ?—I do not think
such stigma affects the public mind ; yet we gain so
little by obtaining the bodies of murderers, that we
should have no objection to its being removed.
Would it not be more advantageous to the students
to have the dissection of the bodies of persons whom
they attended in illness than those of strangers ?—Most
certainly.

DUAL.--Mr.RAINOUND, Captain of a frigate, died
at Toulon, on the 20th instant. in consequence of the wound which
be received in his duel with Mr. GA 101UXG—Frenut Pape►.

During the course of the last and the present week,
several workmen have been busily engaged in pulling
down the interior of the present Bull and Mouth coach
offices, and the Angel Inn, and also the range of houses
in St. Mania's-le-Grand, which run pareflel between
the two streets, as well as the houses svhickare on the
same side as the Bull and Mouth, preparatory to the
extensive improvements which are about bang made in
the neighbourhood of tbs new Post Office.

"CADIZ, JULY 28.
Auverny, Captain cf the French vessel L'Har-
morvie, which arrived at Bordeaux on the stla of June,
from Calcutta, has published, for the information sf
nasiaaiors, an account of several islands of ice, with
which he fell io near the Cape of Good Hope. The truth
of this extraordinary phenomenon has since been proved
by the relation of D. Pedro Medina de Correa, Chief
Pilot in the Spanish trade :o India, and Second Pilot to
the vessel Crnstmicia, which arrived in our bay on the
18th inst. from Nanille.:*The folios+ iog is his account :
" On the 7th of
.the present month, as the vessel
Constancia sailed in th‘vicinity of the Cape, north of
the Needle Bank, wish isfresh easterly breeze, and but
little sea, the gspillia descried, about three-quarters
past ten A. M. st Mill island, East fise degrees North,
which from the deck had the appearance of a white
cloud. Some shadowy lines were afterwards observed
iu it, as is usual in land.
" On arriving at E.S.E. 5 deg. S. to approach near
enough to ascertain vita it was, it appeared at
eleven A. M. to be a large island of considerable
height, and divided into two summits. Seti after,
three other small islands were discovertd North, at a
short distance from the first. At half past eleven A.M.
on hauling Eist, in a line with them, we perceived that
they were white, and that the light of the sun was iv.
fleeted by their surface as by a mirror, whilst in those
places where the sun did not shine, there were some
shadows as are seen in distant land. We remained per-
plexed with this phenomenon till the middle of the day,
when we took our bearings and found the latitude to
be 35 deg. 56 min. 10 sec. S. and the longitude ac-
cording to the chronometer, 24 dcg. 16 min. '0
sec. by the Cadiz meridian, which agreed with the
lunar observations made the day before. The islands
then lay N. 78 deg. 80 min. West, at a distance of seven
or eight miles. We sounded, and at a depth of 135
fathoms found no bottom; besides which, the water re-
mained of a green colour—circumstance; which left po
doubt on our minds that those apparent islands were
bank: of ice, which had come down to lat. 35 deg.
51 min. 46 sec. S. and long. 24 deg. 7 nth). 44 sec.
E. of Cadiz, and 21 deg. S.W. of the Cope of Good
Hope, at a distance of thirty leagues. We proceeded
W.S.W. till two P.m. when steering in aline with them,
we spoke a French vessel which v e had descried since
the dawn of day E.S.E. at a great distance. Sire
told us that she was called L'Harmorire, from Calcutta,
and asked whence we came, where bound to, and what
degree of latitude we had observed? Having told her,
she replied that our observations agreed with hers, apd
gave us the longitude. 16 deg. 18 min. E. of Paris,
which we answered also aaseed with ours, notwith-
standing the small difference of 38 min. E. We did
not hear her make any inquiry respecting the icebergs.
We then proceeded W.N.W. with a N.E. and N.N.E.
wind, and left the French vessel behind. At halt-
past three, P.M. we discovered on our starboard
two other ice islands, and at half-past four,
we stood north of them, having made thirteen miles
since two o'clock. The first or most southerly of those
islands presented a square of 25 ta 30 toises of elevation,
but a iihout an apex like the other, which lay in its
vicinity. A little more to the north of tree, and at a
distance of three miles, another of a large size appeared.
The French vessel passed between the first of these and
the other which lay W.S.W. of it, and which seemed
almost breaking up, as the surface of the wat.:r in
its neighbourhood was covered with small floating
pieces of ice. Sometime after, we saw at a short 4.lis-
tance on our larboard, as we sailed in the dusk of Abe
evening to the windward of it, another icehog which
was almost dissolved. During the night the wind turned
to the N.N.W. and N.W. and blew tempestuously all
, the following day, without our discovering any mote ice.
" It is.certainly extraordinary thit we' should have
encountered fields of ice in so warm a lntitude, and so
near the Cape of Good Hope, though Uosburgh says,
in his Chart, that the beginning of summer is the tithe
when they are most frequently fallen in with. • Ile also
mentions the case of the ship Guardia, which, in lat.
46 to 47 deg. struck against one, and almost filled with
water from the damage which it experienced, hiving
lost its rudder, and only escaped by the aid of a French
Tupelo which towed it to the Cape of Good Hope.

~

.

~.:..

ZrEIiMAKIAND DUTCH PAPER 6.
CONSTANTINOPLP., Jinx 26.

N. Van Zoyleo. the Dotal Ambissador, has cont.,
runic oel to the Reis Effendi a letter from Lord Cow-
ley, the British Ambassador at the Anstrian Court. in
which the Litter wains the Porte not to yield to the illn.
sive hope that the recal of Sir Edward Codrington pro•
coeds from any alteration in the policy of the English
government.--that, on the Contrary, hisrecal had been
occaoioned by his heAlecting to prevent the commul.i.
cation between the Turkish and Egyptian vessels after,
the battle of Navatin, and partiCularly by his not haw-
ing forcibly opposed the departure of Tahir Pacha.—
This letter entirely destroys the hopes which the Div .n
had conceived in consequence of the late changes in the
British Cabinet, and may be considered as a proof that
England is at present folly resolved upon the mainte-
nance of the Treaty iithe 6th July, 1827, and resolved
to hasten, by every possible means, the acceptance of the
1111111 e, ho ever oppressively it may be felt by the Porte.,

CONSTANTINOPLE, Jinx if.
Four hundred Russian prisoners strived here on the
25th, and have been disposed cf, as was done with those
that arrived here before them, in private houses. The
Rus,ians appear disposed to pass round the fortress of
Sebumla, and match along the coast of the Black Sea.
Upon Adrianople. To the latter large divisions of troops
are continually proceeding. The capital alone is to rare'
a corps of 150.000, and no doubt is longer entertained
that a vigorous resistance will be made. The nation
follows obediently the impulse given by Government,
and appears prepared fur every event. All- Humelia is
under arm.; and if ever the Tut ks commit the fault of
hazarding a battle, it will be upon OIL plains of Adria-
nople. A Guerilla warfare is the only one likely to be
attended with auccro, and tliii is probably the opinion
of the Tut Irish Government also. The levy en mane
continues. Oid men, such as ate too weak to move
the held, are to be employed in the fortresses. The
sacred tanner ha• not yet been unfurled ; it is supposed
t at this well not be done till the Sultan repairs in per-
ion to the army. For the last few days a report has,
been current here that hostilities had cornmi•nced be •
tweets Russia and Yersia.—Courrier de Smyrne.
llorsen Hall, Four &Clock.

The last E rgli.lt Post had a powtrtui influence upon
the price of wheat iu our market, and occasioned a
very considerable rim The uh,)le of what aitived,
which, however, was inconsiderable, as also much that
bad already been entered in our warehouses. was sent
off upon speculation. A number of purchasers for home
eOnsunsption also showed themselves. The exportations
. for the week amount to 257 lasts. more than double
the quantity imported. Rye, barley, oats, &c. have
also advanced in price; yet the purchases made have
been principally for home consumption.
The King of the Netherlands has lately created
Bruges a general entrepot, upon the same basis as that
at Amsterdam. The intelligence was received at Bruges
with thelinging of bells and other sign. of rejoicing.
(The Prussian State Gazette to the 23i1 inclusive has no public
sows ham the Russian head-quarters )

EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
Amtresmos, AUG. 26.—It—Two months, 11-65.
lilonsusan. AUG. 46.-13 10i.—Two months, 13 9.
new, Atte. 16.—Three montbs,6 14.
Dracut, AUG. !I.—Three months, 6 241.

the ,o.thers or the corps of rugilleeill can now w
sntirr coves."
The Gazette de France. dated August 27, contaith
no news.

FROM THE JiMENAI. DES DICSATE.
l'A It IS, A yam 26. _ _ .

Taking the Tut kis!' and Russian bulletins as they
ate, and abstracting from the one what may be exagge-
rated, and adding to the other ohm it may conceal, the
fol.o+sing seems to u. the position of the armies: It
seems that the plan of the Itt►ssians is Wit to attack
Schu mla in force, as it was lately supposed, bat to force
the army to tett eat which leans on that post, and then
to blockade it, while the real operation will be the siege
of Varna. In fact, when Var.ia has fallen, the Russians
may march to Adrianople without danger, have a safe
ir treat on Varna and alonetbecoast, in case they sh• uld
meet with a check. Szliumla, titivated and watched.by
A corps, would remain i-olated, an lose all its import.
ance. II this is the litt•sian plan, the month of August
will have been occupied with the siege of Varna, and it
is probable that the Isle Tut kish army at Saturnia,
which, up to the period that we ate acquainted w th its
proceedings, has always avoided a general action, will
not have tasked a decisive battle for the relief of Varna.
This plan will allow the Russian Girard, to rejoin the
Emperor, and, peihaps, will allow Silistria to capitu-
late, which will tender the corps of General Roth dis-
posable. On this supposition no news of importance
may be expected from the head-quarters t•f the Russian
army till the end of August, and the question will be
decided in September and 0 tuber, under the walls of
Constantinople. The qutstion has probably, however,
been decided by the tim • we w•ti e, and event. travel
convected our reasonings into vague conjectuies or im•
po•tant ►•
Fames Felios.—Pa en, A noose 26.—Five per Cents. 107 f. Vie.
—Three per Cents. 72f. 50o:—'Naples Stock, 76f. 45c.—Ruyal
Spanish Loan. 47E-1 laytian Loan. 6.4 f. Wt.—l:Amharic on Lon-
don, one month. 25t. 25c.—Three months. 251. sse.—Citsirsledien.

H 1.4; }OPENING- STAR.