The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-18
THE ANATOMY BILL.
A Measure 10 Promote Medical Science
and to Protect Graves.

The following il the bill framed by the
committee OF the medical profes sion and
introduced in the Senate by MIR. Berry, OF
Amherst, and there amended and sent TO
the House and further amended. Ii Is
here in the form it passed both houses and
| as II was sent to the Governor, whose ap-
proval Is hoped for
A BILL TO PROMOTE MEDICAL SCIENCE AND TO
PROTECT GRAVES AND CEMETERIES FROM
DEsEcnATloN WITHIN THE coMMoNwEA til
OF VIRGINIA.
l. Be 70 enacted by the General assembly Of
Virgipfd, That the professors Of anatomy, the
professors Of surgery, aud the demonstrates OF
anatomy of the schools and colleges Of this Com
monwealtli, which are now or may hiretffer be-
come authorized by law 10 teach medical science
and issue diplomas. shall be, and are hereby.
stitutcd board for the distribution and delivery
| OF dead human bodies. hereinafter described, TO
| and among such persons as under the provisions
of this are enti led thereto The Professor Of
| Anatomy I'm the Medical College of Virginia, ut
| Richmond shall call II meeting OF said board for
organization at time and place to be fixed by
| him within thirty days after the passage of this
act. The said board lsball have full power 10
establish rules and regulations for ITS government,
and u appoint aud remove. proper officers, and
shall keep full and complete minutes of the trans
actions and records shall also be kept, under its
direction, OF al bodies received and distributed.
| which minutes and records shall be open at all
| times to the inspection Of each member Of said
board and of amy Commonwealth attorney OF
any corporation within this state.
=. MI puDll' OIucclr. agents, SeiNlllt anu Ill
officers. agents. and servant, Of any and every city
| ani other municipality, and of any and every
almshOuse. prison, morgue, hospital, jail, or other
public institution In such cities and other inu-
nictpalities having charge or control over dead
| human bodies required 10 be buried at the public
expense. are hereby required TO notify the said
board OF distribution. or such person or persons as
may from time to time be designated by said
board, or its duly authorized officer or agent.
whenever any such body or bodies come to his or
their possession. charge. or control, and shall.
wthou; fee reward. deliver such body or bodies,
and permit and suffer the said board ana 1t agents
and the physicians and surgeons from time TO
time designated by them. who may comply with
the provisions Of this act, to take and remove all
such bodies 10 be used within this state for the adj
yancement of medical science: but no such notice
need be gwen. shall any such body he dc liy-
cred. except In the case q criminals. If any per-
.On claiming to he and satisfying the authorities
in charge Of said body that he or she is of kindred
or Is related nv marriage TO the deceased, shall
claim the said body for burial: II shall he bu .ed
and the expenses Of said burial shall be Il charge
upon the State county, DISTRICT now prov ided
by law: nor shall the notice be given or body
delivered II such deceased person was traveller
who died suddenly, in which case the body shall be
buried
B. The said board or their duly authorized agen
may take and receive such bodies so delivered as
aforesaid and shall. upon receiving them, distrlb-
ute and deliver them 10 ana among the schools,
colleges physicians, and surgeons aforesaid III
manner following Those bodies needed for lee.
lures and demonstrations by the said schools and
COLLEGES. incorporated and unlncOrBOrated, shall
first he supplied. The remaining bodies shall then
bc distributed. prODOrtiOnately ana eQDtaDly.
preference being given TO said schools and colleges
provided, however, tnat after the said bodies shall
have been sufficiently used for the purposes of IN.
structiOn. they shall De decenty Inferred by SAID
schools. colleges. physicians. and surgeons receiv-
ing them. lnstead of receiving and delivering
said bodies Themselves. or through their agents or
servants. the board of distribute IN nav, from time
to time. either directly or by their authorized OIL
Ger agent, designate physicians and surgeons
who hall receive them. and the number which
each shall receive: provided always. however,
that schools and colleges. incorporated and min-
corpordied. and physicians cur2eons of the city
where The death of the person or such persons
described takes place. shall bc preferred TO all
others: and provided also. that for his purpose
sucn dead body shall be beld subject 10 their order
In the city where the death occurs, for period not
| less than twenty-four hours.
! 4. The said board may employ carrier or car
riers for the conveyance OF said bodies which shhi
! he well enclosed in desirable encaSemeni' ana
carefully deposited free from public Observat on.
Said carrier shall obtain receiptby name, or II the
person be unknown, by 4 description, for each
! body delivered by him. aud shalt deposit such
receipt with the secretary of the said board.
3. No school. college. physician. or surgeon shail
be allowed or permitted To- receive any such Oody
Commonwealth by such physician or surgeon or
by or in behalf of such school or college, To be
| approved by the COmmOnwe tlth's attorney of the
| city or corporation court in and for the city or
corporation in which such physician or sur
geon shall reside. or in when .uch school
| filed In the Office OF the clerk Of said court.
which bond shall be in the penal sum OF
lOUO conditioned that all such bodies wlllch the
| said phl sician surgeon. or the said school or
college shall receive thereafter. shall be used only
| for the promotion of medical science within ihis
| State: and whosocyer shall sell or buy such BODY
or bodies. or in any way traffic In The same, or
shall transmit or convey. or cause TO procure 10 be-
| transmitted or conveyed. said body or bodies to
! any place outside of this state. shall be deemed
| guilty OF misdemeanOr. and shall, on conviction.
| he liable To tine not exceeding 5000, or be I'M
| prisOned for time not exceeding ono year.
| g. Neither the Commonwealth nor any city or
municipality. nor any officer, agent, or servant
| thereof, shall be at any expense by reason of the
delivery or distribution of any such body but all
the expenses thereof and of said board of distr-
bn,on shall be paid 10y those receiving the bodies
| in such manner as may bc specified by said board
| OF distI ibutiOn. or Otherwise agreed upon.
! Z. That any person having duties enj0ined upon
him by the provision of This act who shall neglect,
refuse, or omit to perform The slme rs hereny re-
quired shall. on conviction thereof bc liable Ia
! fine Of not less than 800 nor more than 500 for
| each offence.
3. II any person mltwfuly dsinter or displacc
| IA dead human body. or any part of Il dead human
body which shall have been deposited In any vault
or other buria-placc, he shall be deemed guilty OF
felony and shal, on conviction be confined In the
penitcntiary for not less than tive nor mOte than
| ten years.
q. That all acts or parts OF acts inconsistent
with This act be. and he same Is hereby repealed.
10. This ac; shall be In force from its passage