Papers relative to the question of providing adequate means for the study of anatomy.

  • Ferguson, Robert, 1799-1865.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Papers relative to the question of providing adequate means for the study of anatomy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    unclaimed bodies, inasmuch as it would put a stop to the present traffic with the resurrection-men, and the robbery of churchyards. Nor is the plan proposed to be regarded in the light of a mere experiment. It has been already tried in most parts of the conti- nent of Europe, in Protestant countries as well as Catholic, and it has succeeded perfectly; and surely there is no such peculiarity in the English nation as ought to lead us to believe that that which has succeeded in nations so different as the French and Prussians, the Dutch and the Italians, would not succeed in England also. Of course these observations are founded on the supposition that dissection is carried on in a discreet and decent manner and .f ,t should be recognized by law. and a more abundant supply of sub- iects should be procured under the sanction of the state, somepre- cautions may be necessary to prevent the evil which would arise from it being too openly practised, or being brought under the notice of the public in a disgusting or offensive shape. It will not be unreasonable to require of the teachers of anatomy that they should preserve a register of all the bodies which they receive for. dissectiL, naming the source from whence they are may be proper on all accounts to insist that those who “”<>ettake to be teLhL of anatomy should prove their fitness for the office I, irg a rigid examJation before the College of Surgeons of llndon, Edinburgh, or Dublin, or some other competent tribunal. This will at any rate limit the number of anatomical leadrers in he best possible manner; namely, by the exclusmn of unedii- ate^and ignorant pretenders; and by confining this department of meLaUnstruction to men of industry and science. It may be ad^taed as a question also, whether in addition to these measure it will not be advisable to insist that no one should be lo ooen dissecting-rooms for the admission of stuoents without a licenL to do so from the secretary of state, or from some person especially appointed for the purpose, to whom a satisfactory secu- riTnmst be given for the proper regulation and conduct of the 'oftr^egoing observations, there are probably very few • 11 1 'm tn the merit of originality; the subject having ^e: sr^Ie^iecussed, especialiy among medical prac- titioners, with whom the present obstacles to anatomical instruc- tion have long been a subject of serious anxiety.