The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-21

the preservation of the nervous atlt!
circulatory systems. OF course they
are beyond the reach of modest purses.
and rs Il taste for medical and scien-
tiiic research has not yet developed
among the miilionaircs, very few sioO
skeletons are sold. They are always z
special order
very fine French skeleton may be
had for $50, and that is about as high
as the general run of purchasers care
to 20.
Skulls. hands and feet may be pur-
chased separately. but to obtain rib
an arm or IL collar bone the whole affair
must be bought
A skull and cross bones, suitable for
decorative purposes, costs but $40. The
skull has but one cut, and although it
may he very pretty, it is not artistic.
For S22 Il skull that will unhingc and
reveal its hidden contents is possible.
The bones of the car are comprised in
this treasure.
The happy mortal who can put up
sevcnty-fvc dollars may become the
posscssor of n Uranium that leaves moth
ing TO be desired i'll point of minute
articulation. He has but to press n but
ton-thc skull will at once resolve itself
into an anatomical collection. Each
component part will culver with ncrv-
Gus energy on the end of Il spiral wire,
cmanating from n brass upright rod.
Only the dainticst fingers could handle
with impunity such an exquisite spcci-
men. 1t has the protection of n glass
case.
Ladies who feel that they are never
tod Mt
may console themselves with the
knowledge that the skeleton of Il woman
brings higher price than that of n
man. If they wish their friends to
know their worth they have but to be-
qucath their bones to an anatomist
BY the time they are placed on the
market their true value will be salts
factorily determined.
There arc sometimes very peculiar
conditions which influence the price of
dead mems bones. a case recently de-
cidcd in court affords an example.
man who was suffering from an
ailment which required surgical treat
mcnt was SO overwhelmed with graft
tude for the relief obtained that he
drew up will beQucathing his body
after death to the surgeon who had
rescued him from agonizing pain. He
was poor man at the time of his ILL
ness, but with the return of health for
tune smiled upon him and when death
and the doctor claimed him he was
millionaire.
His heirs, although cheerfully conced-
ing the claim of the dread DESTROYER.
stoutly protested against that of the
doctor The courts decided in favor of
the legatee. The relatives buried the
bones of the tcstator, but the price was
high
The skeleton market is supplied
mostly from the pauper and the Grim
inal classes. Patients who die in hos
pitfalls and whose mortal remains arc
not claimed by friends, arc passed over
to the dissccting room. If their bones
escape destruction there they are placed
together and further serve the cause of
science as skeletons. Sad to relate, the
articulator sometimes mixes bones, and
the completed anatomical study is quite
liable to be half saint and half sinner;
sort of Jekyll and Hyde skeleton.
These specimens are often placed on
exhibition us the osseous remains of
some celebrated criminal. The public
is warned against being Mortified by
them. The brutal murderer, whose al
legged bony structure confronts one
and causes thrill to creep over COM
fortably covered bones, may, in point of
fact, be mild and innocent composite
pauper.
The imported skeletons are guaran-
tced to be all one person. The manu-
nr-f II ca1 10 1~.
to the source of their supply, but they
aver that they spare neither trouble nor
expense to secure desirable subjects.
The little ladies' of Paris whose lives
so quickly descend the graduated scale,
would deem it a not unhappy chance to
secure advance payment for their bones.
Their volatile temperaments would lead
them to regard the transaction as n
jovial affair. In point of fact, they
feel certain degree of satisfaction in
knowing just what is to become of
them, and that they alone will reap the
pecuniary benefit.
Imported skeletons are, as a rule. sold
to medical colleges and other educa-
tional institutions. The College of
Physicians and Surgeons has u fine col
lection. They have also a circulating
library. A large number of
skeletons have been divided into sec
tons. These sections are put into nice
cases and are numbered.
Students desiring to study any particu-
Ian bone on section Of bone consult the
catalogue and draw the case contain
ing the desired object lesson. Two
weeks is the limit OF time that the case
may be retained.
1t is quite safe to surmise that the
majority of skeletons are filling
worthier role in their disembodied state
than they ever did in the drama, or,
it may be. the tragedy. of life. An