, 1874-12-07

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GRAVE-R0BB1NG AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS.
The medical school Of the University Of
Michigan, Mt Ann Arbor, seems to have got
itself into trouble again On account Of the
bodies it has been forced to buy for dissect-
ing purposes. This discussion comes up
periodically, and a great lue. e.and-cry is made
with every revival of it. It may bo admitted
at the outset Tint it is very horrible thing to
rob graves, aud tho authorities of every
medical school who bny cadavers without
knowing where thoy como from aro apt to
encourage this desperate aud revolving sys-
TEN of spoiation. To this extont their con-
duct ia reprehensiblo. But we must also
meet this question with the recognized ne
cessity for providing medical schools with
dead bodies for disseotion and, in this, We
arc forced to the conclusion TINT the State
authorities must share the guilt attaches
to the robbing Of graves whenever they fail
to provide decent and legal mems for obtain
ing the bodies. The great trouble in this
whole controversy is silly adherence to tho
consideration of subject which, it not
altogether Affected, ia the growth Of tradi-
tionl prejudice.
We must start out with tho admission that
the medical schools must hnye bodies for dis
section. Science demands it. Life aud health
demand it. The law really demands it. The
statutes Of almost ali the Statcs provide
penalties for malpractice. As long as d
surgeon is Gable to imprisonment for cutting
the wrong artery, it iB unjust md cruel to
deprive him Of the means Of learning how
TO dissect the human body, or to force
him to barter with the grayc-robbors
for his material. The State is constant.
ly called upon to support criminals,
paupcrs, and insane persons during their lives,
and to defray the expenses Of their internent
after death. There should bo in every State
provision for turning their bodies over to the
medical schools Whenever they aro not
| o3aimed by relatives or friends. The deceased
haye been, at the best, drag upon the State,
aud sometimes worse. # they have not ac-
tualiy been marauders on society as Grim
innls, they have sappcd the resources Of the
State Tor their support, aud lave in no way
returned an equivalent. If their empty
frames, after death, can afford any compeu-
sation for the service rendered them during
| life, they should bo used for this purpose.
| There is not the slightest tingo of sentiment
tlat can give colosing to tho opposite view.
Hero arc bodies which no man nor woman
cares for. II lowered into the pa1-
per's grave, they decay and become
food for worms. II transferred to the
dissocting-roon, thoy contribute more to the
progress Of science and surgicnl knowledge
than they over contributed in life to thoit
own good or the welfare of the community.
From mere sentimental view of the cues.
tion, we eau see no choice between horrible
dissolution in tbs society of worms aud &
clcan-cut dissection, unless it be in fayo,
of the litter. Respect for the feeling of rel
atiyes aud Difference to tho widespread
prejndices Of society rendor it wrong to de.
mand this from those who provide for them
selves in life and who are provided for b,
their friends IN death. But, where Ties,
bodies are the property Of the commonwealth
become SO by the positive right Of suppor
while living and the negative right found II
tho absence Of any other claims when dead
then they should he used for tile coul,no.
benefit Of mankind in the medical schools.
With regard to tho Ann Arbor University
wo bolicye tint the law Of Michigan author
izea this uso Of the bodies of criminals wAs
die, but that tho officers OF tho jails a,st
penitontiaries have po1sistontly refused tt
dolivor tho bodies upon the application of th'
schools Some penalty ought to be provided
for such refusal. The simple fact is that tll'
schools must hayo bodies for dissection, md
if the State does not provide some othe1
means for obtaining them, the graveyard
will continue to bo pillaged, and tho public
will have to bear these periodical outbreak
Of disgust. The first thing to do is to over
| como tho absurd squoamahncsa which mos
Of us are apt to entertain with reference t.
tho subject. Considerations Of science an'
, personal health are much moro inlportan
than the disposition OF lifeless body whicl
| nobody cares to claim, md which never rem
dersd tho world saryiea until It gays up th