The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-18
BODIES FOR DISSECTION
RESULT OF LETTERS SENT OUT By
CORONER-ELECT TUTEwILER.
A Misconception of the Plan at Terre
Haute-Mr. TutewiIer Explains
the Situation.

Harry ID. Tutewiler. coroner-elect of
Marion county believes the coming Legis-
lature will make it mandatory upon the
superintendents of state institutions and
county asylums and county authorities to
furnish the bodies of dead paupers and
those who die without friends to claim their
remains TO the medical colleges of Indiana
for scientific purposes. Such a law would
compel county undertakers TO ship such
bodies TO an authorized representative of
medical colleges, while at present 1t Is
optional with the undertaken.
After Mr.. Tutewiler elected coroner
of Marion county in November he con-
ferred with physicians of the various med
ical colleges and laid before them a plan
TO secure bodies for dissecting purposes.
He suggested that bodies of paupers and
the bodies Of the friendless who die at in
situations be shipped to Indianapolis TO a
commission composed OF representatives OF
the various medical colleges and allow the
commission TO prorate the bodies according
TO the number of students, is done in
Pennsylvania, Illinois and several other
States. This plan met the approval of the
medical college representatives and Mr..
Tutewiler sent letters to 700 undertakerS
throughout the State authorizing them to
ship such bodies to this city. Dispatches
from Terre Haute indicate that a wrong
conception OF the pan mas Deen taken Dy
undertakers In that city. In Lafayette ar
engagements that are satisfactory have been
made.
PAUCITY OF BODIES.
"There are received from all sources in
Marion county only about twenty-five or
thirty bodies a year for the medical col
leges," said Mr.. Tutewiler last night. "I
mean only that number are secured by
legitimate means. There are six medical
colleges in Indianapolis out OF the seven
in the State. The colleges in this city can
use from eighty to 100 bodies year-in
fact. they need that many for scientific
purposes. The colleges haven't heretofore
been able to get material for dissecting
purposes from outside OF Marion county
for several reasons. County authorities
contract for the burial of the pauper dead.
There Is no commission provided for nv
law to receive and distribute bodies, each
college having to make its own individual
requisition.
1.-The colleges can't procure enough bodies
legally except under such a plan as is
proposed. Bodies can't be shipped except
by licensed embalmers on account of the
INSCRIPTIONS undertakes might ship other
bodies TO this city, but this can't be done.
as a shipping permit can only be pro-
cured by applying to the health officer
where a record of the deceased is kept
This is the only possible solution of the
problem that confronts medical colleges.
Undertakes who have unclaimed bodies
and pauper dead can ship them here for
dissecting purposes. The undertakers will
be paid for their services by the medical
colleges. and the counties and State will
be saved the expense of paying the burial
expenses. The coroner would send a legal
requsition signed by the commission of
demonstrators TO the undertaken.
ssIt would be better TO use the unclaimed
and pauper dead in the interest of science
than to have our graves defiled. Accord
ing 10 the last report over four hundred
paupers were buried at the expense OF the
various counties. Probably % per cent. of
that number were children. and half OF
the rest. although paupers. had some
friends who claimed the bodies. The 9TH
ers could have been sent to the medical
colleges. The colleges will not close for
lack OF material. Wouldn't IL be better 10
have such bodies used than 10 continue the
Conditions that now exist?"