Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-05-28
PLEDGE THEIR BODIES.
An Uncanny Society known as
the Autopsy Club.
Its Members gree That When They
Die Their Remains shall BE Given
over 70 the Caase of
science.

There is in Paris a large, carefully.
organized society of seientists-wffh
several women nenbers-which has
a CHASTITY and horrible purpose. Each
member has solemniy pledged himself
that when he dies his body, instead 81
h. ing eereInonious burial. shall be de-
liv cred TO his surviving associates. who
shall dissect il, and that his brain like
wise shall be studied and probed for
its secrets. and fiually immersed in al
cohol, il shall be ranged in a glass be-
side the skull which held il, along with
other brains and skulls OF those that
have gone before.
The name Of this strange organiza-
/ ton IS the Mutual Autopsy society ia
/ Societe d'Autopsie Mutuelle). il il
/ composed Of about 100 living members.
and the dead, whose skulls and brains
are neatly eatalogued in a glass case
/ az one end of the meeting room, NUM-
Der Il. Within a few days the 18th
/ CHASTITY relic VIII have its place there.
This 18th was in life the property Of
I NJ Abel Hovelacque, director Of the
Archaeological oeiety, who died a
IA alcohol, on the table Of the Gissect-
ing room, where soon win gather the
mans former comrades to weigh and
cut and probe and discuss it, and try 10
pierce the mystery which it holds.
The Mutual Autopsy society was or
gained in 1876. when several professors
and sayants of the Acknowledged So
ciety decided 10 otter themselves as ex-
anPles in making . sacrifice to science.
Why, they asked one another. should
we render immediately to earth the de-
serted mortal tenement. the study of
which offers so vast and interesting pos
sibilities for the advancement OF Sci
enee %
Another doctrine of the society is
that 10 would be infinitely better for
families. when an adult member died.
il he should be made the subject Of
careful scientific study. In this wav
the children of relatives OF the deceased
might be warned OF and Taught how to
guard against hereditary nialadies
which might menace them.
1t was this double point of view
scientific and humanitarian-tha
brought about the organization of the
Mutual Autopsy society. The consti-
tuition Of the society is carefully drawn
and each member is obliged to sign
the following pledge.
j. the undersigned, desire and wish
thai after my death an autopsy Of nv
scay be held under the auspices of the |
Societe dAutopsie, duly authorized, |
and also Under those as well of the I
Society for the Advancement of An /
thropologieal Science. both legally rec /
og1lized TO be of public utility.
Therefore, for the purpose of being I
useful to science. bequeath to the I
laboratory Of the aforesaid association /
my bra.n and any other part Of nv /
body, or my entire body, if that be /
Judged useful IN the course Of the au-
topss.'
Not long ago one OF the societaires
resolved 10 commit suicide. and wrote
to the president of the association to
that effect. But at the last moment a
terrible doubt passed through his mind
as he asked himself If his wife would \
be likely, after all. TO consent to his
autopsy.
He therefore drew up his last viii
and testament, which stipulated that
his fortune should go to the city of I
Paris IN case ais wife should strive TO
prevent the disposition of his body as
he wished. Then he killed himself.
After his death the Mutual Autopsy. So
Getty claimed his remains and had pos
session Of them for a short time. Then
the wife, by legal proceedings, secured
possession of what was left Of her hus-
bands body and had it decently in
reS-red in the provinces. The city Of I
Paris thereupon laid claim to the cs-
tste, and the Soeiete d'Autopsie sued
Tor the recovery of the suicides brain. +
3oth cases are still in the Paris courts.
One meulber Of the society is quoted
as saying chat the thought that his
brain would be taken out Of its box by I
st.Sl emtnent scientists as his CON /
freres had robbed death of it's bitter I
ness, and that he now regarded his ulti-
mate end with a sort Of melancholy, /
.pleasure.-N v Journal