Eastern times., 1855-04-05
The Pauper Dissection Bill.

This abominable bill for turning the bodies
of the unfortunate poor 10 good account, was
one of the enterprises of the Republican leg J
islature. The bill passed the Senate, and was
defeated in the House by democratic votes.-
The republicans" however, managed to
pass a vote referring il TO the next legislature,
thus endorsing the outrage as bantling of
their own getting up.
The following remarks were made in the
House while the bill was under discussion =
Mr. Andrews, of Biddeford, said he felt
compelled to oppose this bill from a sense of
humanity, although he had been written to by
several medical men of his own place TO sup
port it. He should have been glad of an op-
portunity TO serve them, but could not disobey
the dictates Of his own judgment. 1t was not
tho rioh this bill proposed to dlssect, who
is able to build costly tombs over his body, or
10 surround it with splendid iron fence; but
it was the poor man, whom misfortunes had
reduced to the Poor House, were made
the victims. He said he would rather it
should take himself, or any rich and educated
man, and make dedication Of such to the
cause of science, than the poor, destitute,
homeless and friendless. He had seen the
aged in the alms-house, who had been brought
there by their misfortunes and not their crimes.
We boast of our democracy, but does it only
apply to The richl Does it only protect us
while we are alivel Will it not follow US to
our graves, and shield us therel If it will
not, then is our democracy an empty boast.
Suppose poor sailor is cast, by storms and
shipwreck, on our shores, and then dies in the
poor house, where he has been compelled to
take refuge. Shall we give his body to the
knife of the dissector, while his mother, far
off in distant State or land, mourns over his
death, and has her feelings lacerated by the
additional and inhuman fact that his grave has
been robbed and his body given up TO the dis
sector! He hoped the bill would not pass.
for it was abhorreht 10 all his better feelings,
and he thought would justly keep every mem
Der of the House from these seats another
year.
Mr. Pike, democrat, of Topsfeld, said =
| object 10 this bill on account of the class of
subjects proposed be offered up for dissection.
They are persons convicted of crimes, and
the inmates Of Your almshouses. You propose
to add To their present misfortunes, the further
punishment of being dissecied hereafier,-
classes of the human family upon whose heads
the hand of providence has already been laid
yerv heavily
The opposition to this bill will come from
ignorance and superstition this is the class
you have selected. They of all others Will
have the most dread of this bill.
Ii il only the educated and enlightened that
can appreciate The necessity of providing sub
lects for the medical faculty. They alone can
appreciate the immense advantages which the
dead would thus confer on the living.
What noble spectacle for a man who has
devoted his whole life TO the public service.
when he comes to die, offering up his boiy as
public sacrifice for the promotion of science =
for.the good of the present and future genera
tions None but onr most ntt lligent, best
educated and most philanthropic men will con-
sent to do this. raaa
Let the highest classes-the wealthy and
the talented first set the example of self sacri-
fee. 10 benefit and bless mankind, and you dis
pel the mists Of ignorance and superstition
which now require extraordinary measures to
procure subjects Just do this, and the dissec-
ting room will be filed 10 overhowing.
Adopt this course and it would become pop
ular all classes would crave the privilege o
offering up their bodies after death, to the
cause of medical science.
Our rich men would make bequests TO this
noble object our great men would initiate
their example, and Of course The poor mar
would Initiate The rich and the great hs
would think il token of frespect to be saeri
feed for SO good purpose.
This, sir, would dispel all fears of death OF
this ground his body would not be sacrificed
as sort Of punishment for his crimes or hi,