The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-12
BODY.SNATCHlNG
How ResurrectiOnists Go About
Their Work,
And the Disposition That is Made
of Their Plunder.

The avocaton OF the resurrectionist,
which is regarded with so much horror by
sensitive people, came into existence and
has grown to a recognized pursuit with the
advance and demands of surgical science
In the ancient practice anatomy was little
regarded, and tile eorpses Of rnurderers and
other criminals afforded sufficient supply
Of subjects for the few students that be-
lieved minute examinations Of dead hu-
man bodies was absolutely necessary in or
der to become a proficient surgeon. But
towards the close of the eighteenth century
the progress of surgical science, both on the
continent and in England, caused men to
turn their attention more and more to a
minute analysis OF the human system,
hence arose an increasing demand for sub
jects, and the resurrectionists came forward
to meet it. The demand rapidly increased
and their number rapidly grew. Their
work, Of necessity, was reduced to a sys-
tenn, which has remained essentially the
same until the present. Caution, alacrity
and skillfulness were the three requisites TO
success.
In New York City the Morgue furnishes
the most, if not all, the bodies used for dis
section, not only for that city hut also for
Philadelphia Baltimore and Boston, whith-
er they are sent by express, doubled up in
boxes or barrels; but in the West, especial
ly In Ohio, where the laws are more strin-
gent and an intense popular feeling exists
on the subject, body-snatching is danger
ous and risky business Here the resurrec-
zionist is all outlaw and can be shot by any
one discovering him at work. Ii captured
long term in the Penitentiary awaits him,
consequently the services Of the resurreo-
zionist bring a good price. There is a law
in this State granting TO Medical Colleges
the privilege of using the bodies OF persons
diving in Hospitals, Poor-houses, Asylums
and Warehouses, and unclaimed within
forty eight hours, for dissecting purposes;
but to this these institutions object on the
grounds that it creates in the minds of the
inmates dread Of the fate that may await
bodies after death; hence the resurrection
ist is the last and only hope OF the Medical
Colleges.
The larger part of the bNdies used here
are from the Potters Field, but many OF
the other cemeteries in the neighborhood
furnish share, and the burial grounds OF
country towns, which are generally in
secluded hooks OF the wouds, or some out
of-the-way place. unprotected and un.
guarded, offer rich harvest field for the
resurrectonist, who is all expert in the bus
iness and can cover up his tracks SO as to
make discovery almost impossible. Nc
grave is entirely safe if it Is known to con
tain subject, which has some special in
terest for the profession. and very often the
resurrectionist attends the funeral of such
person in order that he may know the
locality OF the grave. In the course of few
f,l,f f,,1 80 f,;n Fte
over the grave becomes slackened, he either
himself, or by employing some woman, as
certains if any traps or alarms have been
set, and upon being informed on this point
he awaits until the darkest hour of the
night and tien begins his unhalowed task
Only portion of the dirt is removed from
the grave, and upon reaching the coffin the
lid is pried open with an instrument made
for the purpose, and the body drawn out
the grave filled up, and every mark upon il
carefully replaced. Formerly, when it was
mistlemeanor only to steal body, and O
felony To steal the clothing, the garments
were all put back into the coffin; but now
the resurrectionst claims all the garments
jewelry, ETC., as his part Of the spoils be
sides the sum OF S35 which he usually re
ceives for the subject. If the body thus
obtained Is to be conveyed to any great dis
tance, it is either doubled up and placed in
a box and sent bv express or two or more
bodies are placed in trunk and started of
to their destination as the baggage of the
person obtaining them If the bodies are
to be conveyed only short distance, vari.
ous methods are resorted to in order to
escape detection.
Tie most common are, either to dress
the body and place it upright upon the
seat of . buggy and in this manner drive
through the streets and land at the front
door Of the college, or to box the body uI
and deposit 1T at some place agreed upon
where it is obtained by the parties fol
whom it is intended. The body is seldom
taken into the College through an alley Oh
bv back way, lest suspicion be aroused
but, by certain signals understood by the
parties concerned the stiff is passed out o.
the carriage and through the front dool
into the college, where it is either takeI
directly 10 the dssecting-room, or, if neces
sary. concealed for u few days in some place
prepared for it; but generally, if il ha.
been obtained by unfair means, or officer,
are on its track. it is distigured by dyeine
the skin, putting the lips, widening tlit
wings of the nose, shaving head and face
printing scar upon it, or skinning thu
face.
On arriving at the dissecting-room thu
bodies are placed upon tables, where they
first go through Il process to preserve then
from decay. and also to so saturate the flesl
with certain substances that those beini
cut while dsseeting them will not be poi
soned. The left side Of the neck is opened
and the carotid artery severed. A buckle
nearly full of water, with arsenic dissolved
in it, is then driven through the arterie
by means of u syringe, In about twenty
four honrs this fund is absorbed
and plaster Of paris in fluit
form is driven into tile arteries in simla
manner, when the body is ready for tn
class to commence work. The winter tern
Of the College is tile time for dissecting
Then the students are divided into elasse
of four. five and six each, and to each clas
is arranged a subject, which is divided int
as many parts as there are members of tli
class. Under the direction of a professo
1 the classes then begin dissecting, which is
|. very slow and a very nice piece of work
and very different from the common MOTTO
that bodies are slashed and chopped t
: pieces while being dissecte'l. From five t