title: The study of anatomy in England from 1700 to the early 20th century.
abstract: The study of anatomy in England during the 18th and 19th century has become infamous for bodysnatching from graveyards to provide a sufficient supply of cadavers. However, recent discoveries have improved our understanding of how and why anatomy was studied during the enlightenment, and allow us to see the context in which dissection of the human body took place. Excavations of infirmary burial grounds and medical school cemeteries, study of hospital archives, and analysis of the content of surviving anatomical collections in medical museums enables us to re-evaluate the field from a fresh perspective. The pathway from a death in poverty, sale of the corpse to body dealer, dissection by anatomist or medical student, and either the disposal and burial of the remains or preservation of teaching specimens that survive today in medical museums is a complex and fascinating one.
authors.affiliation: Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. pdm39@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Piers D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Ceridwen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boston
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.forename: Vin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Annsofie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Witkin
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education / Q000266:history*; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000266:history; D004739:England; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans