Anatomy. Proceedings at the National Political Union, respecting legislative interference in the study of anatomy, and the supply of bodies for anatomical research.

  • National Political Union
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anatomy. Proceedings at the National Political Union, respecting legislative interference in the study of anatomy, and the supply of bodies for anatomical research. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To persons who are not members of the National Poli¬ tical Union, it may be necessary to premise, that soon after the formation of the society it was determined that the meeting of the Council should be held in the presence of such of the members as might chuse to attend its sit¬ tings, and rooms having been taken at Saville House, Leicester Square, arrangements were made to admit about two hundred members; each member contributing one shilling at the least every quarter of a year, and the fur¬ ther sum of one penny every evening he attended. The space allotted for the members has been crowded every time the Council have assembled, and a much larger num¬ ber of members would probably attend could accommoda¬ tion be made for them. The science of Anatomy generally, and Mr. Warburton’s Bill on that subject more particularly, having excited at¬ tention among all classes of people, a member of the Council, who thought it would be useful to ascertain the opinions of the members of the Union on this important subject, brought it before the meeting held on the twenty- fifth of January, when it was resolved unanimously, “ That, Anatomy being a fit subject for discussion in this Council, it be again introduced at the earliest oppor¬ tunity. Previous, however, to its having been brought before the meeting, the member alluded to wrote to another mem¬ ber of the Council, a working man, much acquainted with numbers of other working men, and well respected by them; requesting his opinion of the propriety of asking working men to sign petitions, praying the legislature to take measures for encouraging Anatomy and supply¬ ing the schools with bodies. To this application he received the following reply. Dear Sir, You ask whether petitions could be got up in favor ol Mr. M^arburton^s Anatomy Bill. My answer is, that if a man wished to have his head broken, and to go a short way to get it done, he would pursue a very di¬ rect and certain course to such an end, by collecting to¬ gether a large number of persons and advising them to petition in favor of that measure. Depend upon it, that out of the immediate circle of those who think deeplij, there is a much greater disposition to make subjects of the hospital surgeons, than to become their subjects.