The Washington times., 1902-02-06
Health Officer Woodward
Submits Report to the
Senate.
URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Measure Would Increase Material
Anatomical Sciencc-C omrn
MacfnrIand Greatly interested. ia
the New Movements.

The Health Officer Dr. William c.
Woodward. yesterday submitted TO tho
District Commissioners a report on Sen
ate bill No. 22"1. For the promotion Of
anatomical science and TO prevent the
desecration of graves in the District Of
Columbia In his report Dr. Woodward
says:
The distribution of anatomical ma
terial TO the various medical and dental
colleges of the District OF Columbia is
regulated now by an act for the promo
tion OF anatomical science and TO prevent
the desecration OF graves in the District
of Columbia. approved February 30 1885
This act permits persons in charge Of
hospitals and OF the prison, Jail, and
mo-gue TO deliver for the promotion of
anatomical science the bodies of de-
ceased persons under their control which
must otherwise be buried at public eX-
pense.
shirk Responsibility.
Some OF the officers in charge of such
institutions. however, either through a
Discrimination TO assume the responsible
ity OF delivering these bodies as author
lied by law, or for unknown reasons,
have failed to avail themselves of such
authority, and have caused numerous
bodies to be buried at public expense
which might have been well used in pro-
noting the interests OF this community as
centre OF medical education and in ia
ciliTatius the work OF the various official
medical examining boards conducting ex-
aminations from time TO time in this Dis
trict
The average amount of material deliv-
cred has been somewhat less than one
body to each nine medical and dental
students, supply manifestly insufficient
to permit satisfactory instruction in an
atOlny. surgery. and allied branches Of
medicine and dentistry. Under the pres
ant law no bodies have been or can be
delivered for the use Of examining boards.
The pending bill is designed TO in
crease the material available for the pro-
motion OF anatomical science by requir-
ing public or quasi public officers having
control Of bodies which if buried a all,
must be buried at public expense. 10 de-
liver them to a board created 20 control
the disposition of such remains and vest
ed with authority either 10 allow The
use OF such remains for the promotion OF
anat omical science. under certain definite
restrictions, or to cause such remains 10
be inferred.
alton of this board will accrue immeGi-
ately to the advantage Of medical and
dental colleges, it is provided that The eX
penses of this anatomical beard snail be
betrayed by these institutions.
To Promote Science.
1T is believed that the provisions Of
this bill viii secure for the promotion
of anatomical science and for the building
Up Of the city OF Washington as centre
OF medical education a supply of material
sufficient for all legitimate needs.
Whatever objection there may seem
at first to authorizing the utilization of
the bodies of persons who will otherwise
be buried at public expense for anatom-
ical purposes, il must be remembered
that the interests of the public and Of
every individual require the presence Of
properly educated physicians; that anat-
omy, which can be learned satisfactorily
only from dissection, is Ihr-.cry founda-
hc1 - 81. ."|-uIcaI and surgical knowl-
edge; and that the community is thore-
fore in It's own interest bound 10 pro .IGe
the means whereby such knowledge can
he obtained lawfully.
Attention is invited. too, to The fact
that the present law authorizing the dis
tribution OF bodies for scientific purposes
has been in force To- FIVE years. and was
operated without public offence, and even.
so far as is known. without offence to in
dividual persons. Similar laws are in
force IN most OF the States ana Terri
tories. and operate generally without oh
lection from any source.
1T is respectfully recommended that
this bill be returned 80 the Committee
on the Disiric, Of Columbia of the House
of representatives. with a rec ommenda-
ton that it be favorab.y acted upon.
Asks Favorable Report.
CCnmissicEer Macfariand has recon-
nended that a favorable report be made
On the bill Commissioner Ross has
stated that he opposes any such measure.
but offers no objection 10 the bill being
forwarded 10 Congress as representing
the majority view of the Board
Moses En,yioyes' Relief Association.