Initially,
grave robbery was motivated by a desire to steal valuable possessions from
the deceased, leaving the bodies undisturbed. Over time, during the Middle
Ages, this practice transformed into body snatching, with documented cases
dating back to 1319. Even figures like Leonardo da Vinci may have conducted
secret dissections on corpses for their anatomical studies.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw a
significant demand for human cadavers by medical schools in Britain and the
United States. "Resurrectionists" and "Night Doctors" would
scour poor neighborhoods for fresh corpses to fulfill this demand. Renowned
anatomist Robert Knox played a notable role in the frequent dissection of
recently obtained bodies, contributing to the advancement of anatomy studies.
A thriving black market emerged around body
snatching, with corpses even being shipped to the United States for
experimentation. The article highlights the notorious case of Burke and Hare,
who went as far as committing murders to provide fresh bodies for medical
establishments.
Initially, authorities turned a blind eye
to body snatching due to its contribution to medical knowledge. However, the Murder
Act of 1752 marked a change by directing murderers' bodies to medical
practitioners for dissection. Public unrest and riots often accompanied public
executions, driven by the belief that incomplete burials could lead to the dead
rising.
To counter body snatching, iron cages
called "Mortsafes"
were introduced to protect graves. Families often rented these due to their
cost. Eventually, the Anatomy Act of 1832 allowed physicians and medical
students to legally obtain corpses for dissection, thereby ending the illegal
corpse trade.
