Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-05-15
5fiscellang.


: The "BoDY SNATcHERs" OF New
YoRK.-There are several medical col
leges in this city, and more than thou.
sand young men are engaged in prepar-
alton for the title Of M. ID. The conse-
quence is that there is large demand
for subjects. The latter are generally in
good supply, inasmuch as all paupers
who die at the hospitals and are not
claimed by their friends within twenty
four hours after death, may legally be
taken for dissection. These being in the
hands of the sub-officials of the hospital,
are at once sold to any one that will pay
the best price. The consequence is that
the price of dead bodies is varied by the
rule of supply and demand, and they are
worth from S. to s25, according to cir
cumstances. Besides the subjects obtain
ed at the hospital in the manner referred
to, there is class of body snatchers who,
by a sacrilegious term, are sometimes
called resurrection men," These fellows
prowl about the potters' field in small
parties, and in favorable evening will
get dozen bodies, which they convey
in boats to suitable hiding places, and
when night again overshadows the world,
they bring them in sacks to the medical
colleges. Here they find purchaser in
the janitor, who in turn disposes of them
to the different students. The janitor,
doing wholesale business, makes about
one dollar head. The dissecting the
atre of medical institution exhibits
strange contrasts between life and death.
The subjects are laid on tables, and four
students generally club together to pur-
chase one. This they divide in con-
venient arrangement, one taking the
head, another the arms, another the trunk
and another the legs. For the use of
the room and privilege of dissection, each
student pays 50, and as much more is
charged for subjects by the college; or
in other words, if the students have TO
pay over So for subject, the college
makes up the excess. Subjects are now
scarce and bring what once would have
been considered an enormous price.
They used to be plenty at So, but are
now worth S25. As consequence the
body snatchers and resurrection men are
having fine harvest. If these fellows
don't make money it is their own fault.
they often come down from Potter's field
with half dozen bodies and get their
cash on delivery. These bodies are
brought in sacks or in boxes as may best
avoid public notice, for this trade not
only omits advertising but hides its ope-
rations in the most secret manner. The
reason why subjects are of so much high
er cost is not. owing to the initiation of
our currency, but to the fact that there
are many medical colleges in inland cit
les, such as Albany, Geneva, Ann Arbor,
etc, and these institutions are chic fly
supplied with subjects from New York.
They are now offering large prices, and
their agents stir up lively competition
with our city colleges. They also fore
stall the winter demand by purchasing
subjects during the summer, and laying
them down in salt for winter use. There
have been several hundred dead bodies
in casks either held on storage in this
city or else in transit for the West during
the past season, and they have since then
arrived at their destination and have
subserved the interests of science.-Letter
to the N. Y. Times.