The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-05-09
PLEDGE THEIR BODIES,
An Uncanny. 6o4iety Known aa
the Autopsy Club.
1ta Members Agree That When They
Die Their Remains Shall BE 0lvvn
Over to the Cause Of
Science.

CrX80l1eQ 8Oc1etYs OF 0G16AN 1SCo-Wlt0
several women members-which has
CHASTITY and horrible purpose. Each
member has soiemnly pledged himself
that when he dies his body, instead OF
having ceremonious burial, shall be de-
livered to his surviving associates, " no
shall dissect it. and that has brain like
wise shall be studied and probed for
it's secrets, and finally immersed in al
cohol, it shall be ranged in glass be-
side the skull which held it, along with
other brains and skulls of those that
have gone before.
The name of this strange organiza-
tion is the Mutual Autopsy society LA
Societe d'Autopsie Mutuelie). It is
composed of about 100 living members,
and the dead, whose skulls and brains
are neatly catalogued in glass case
at one end of the meeting-room, num-
ber IA. Within a few days the 18th
ghastly relic will have it's place there.
This 18th was in life the property OF
NJ. Abel Hovelacque, director of the
Archaeological society, who died a
short time ago. Itnow rests, immersed
in alcohol, on the table of the dissect-
ing room, where soon will gather the
mans former comr AIDES to weigh and
cut and probe and discuss it, and try to
pierce the mystery which it holds.
The Mutual Autopsy society was or
ganized in 1876, when several professors
and savants Of the Anthrcpologica so
ciety decided TO offer themselves as ex-
amples 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-
ence?"
Another doctrine of the society is
that it would be infinitely better for
families, when an adult member died,
if he should be made the subject of
careful scientific study. In this way
the children of relatives ofsthe deceased
might be warned OF and tanght how to
guard against hereditary maladies
which might menace them.
1t was this double point of view
scientific and Observation-Disclosures
brought about the organization of the
Mutual Autopsy society. The consti-
/ tuition of the. e.society is carefully drawn
and each member is obliged to sign
the following pledge.
II. the undersigned, desire and wish
that after my death an autopsy Of my
body be held under the auspices of the
Societe d'Autopsie, duly authorized,
and also under those as well of the
Society for the Advancement of An
thropological Science, both legally rec
ognized to be OF public utility.
Therefore, for the purpose of being
useful to science, I bequeath to the
laboratory Of the aforesaid association
| my brain and any other part of my
body, or my. entire body, If that be
| judged useful in the course of the au-
| topsy."
| Not long ago one of the societairee
| resolved to commit suicide, and wrote
to the president of the association tr
| that effect. But at the last momert 9
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 will
and testament, which stipulated that
his fortune should go to the city OF
Paris in case his wife should strive to
prevent the disposition of his body as
he wished. Then he killed himself.
After his death the Mutual Autopsy So
ciety 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 deoently in
TERED in the provinces. The city %
Paris thereupon laid claim to the cs-
tate, and the Societe d'Autopsie sued
for the recovery of the suicides brain
Both cases are still in the Paris court s.
One member of the society is quoted
as saying that the thought that his
brain would be taken out of its box by
such eminent scientists as his con-
freres had robbed death Of its bitter
ness, and that be now regarded his ulti-
mate end with sort OF melancholy
pleasure.-N. Y. Journal.
Boer idea Of the Gift Of Tongues.
The Beers have their own ideas as to
the origin Of the English language.
They Sav that whan Dame Nature yvaS