Kevan wrote: > An odd topic, but I am looking for references to Victorian & earlier > 'body snatching' for medical research. This can include good websites, books > available (can be the British Library) etc. This is for a family member who > is researching the same, and thought you guys seem to have a wealth of > knowledge! The Italian Boy by Sarah Wise* is well referenced which will lead to additional sources. It's a very interesting book. From the synopsis: <quote> Towards the end of 1831, the authorities unearthed a series of crimes as Number 3, Nova Scotia Gardens in East London that appeared to echo the notorious Burke and Hare killings in Edinburgh three years earlier After a short investigation, three body-snatchers (later known as The London Burkers) were put on trial for supplying the anatomy schools of London with suspiciously fresh bodies for dissection. </quote> This case led to legislation that ultimately saw the end of body- snatching in this country. * Published by Pimlico (a Random House imprint) 2005 ISBN 1-8441-3330-3 First published by Jonathan Cape 2004.

Hi Kevan (& Listers !) I have two references to this incident in my files because the body- snatchers were caught due to the diligence of Richard PARTRIDGE, F.R.S., M.R.C.S., Professor of Anatomy at King's College, London and at the Royal Academy. He appears on one of the three 'PARTRIDGE' Family Trees that I maintain as "family rumours" state that his descendants are "cousins" - but I have not yet found any proof of the link ! He was offered the body of 'The Italian Boy' for dissection, but was very suspicious of the men offering it, and managed to deceive them into waiting while he arranged for the police to be called. Four men were arrested, one turned Queen's Evidence to save himself, but two of them, Bishop & Williams, were hanged for their crime, and their bodies were given for dissection - Poetic Justice ! The two references are both to be found in "The Times":- a) A letter from Professor PARTRIDGE to The Editor in the issue dated December 5th 1831 - Page 3 - Issue 14713 - Column E. b) A fuller story of the case in the Obituary of Professor PARTRIDGE in "The Times" dated 26th March 1873 - Page 5 - Column D. I managed to find both of these and print them off by using "The Times - Digital Archive: 1785 - 1985", but I know that access to this can be a bit tricky at times if you have not got a subscription, but I think it is possible to get access at public libraries ? I hope this helps ! Best Wishes ! Roger PARTRIDGE, Surbiton, Surrey. ------------------- On 5 Oct 2008, at 16:39, Firebird wrote: > Kevan wrote: > >> An odd topic, but I am looking for references to Victorian & >> earlier >> 'body snatching' for medical research. This can include good >> websites, books >> available (can be the British Library) etc. This is for a family >> member who >> is researching the same, and thought you guys seem to have a >> wealth of >> knowledge! > > The Italian Boy by Sarah Wise* is well referenced which will lead to > additional sources. It's a very interesting book. > > From the synopsis: > > <quote> > Towards the end of 1831, the authorities unearthed a series of crimes > as Number 3, Nova Scotia Gardens in East London that appeared to echo > the notorious Burke and Hare killings in Edinburgh three years earlier > After a short investigation, three body-snatchers (later known as > The London Burkers) were put on trial for supplying the anatomy > schools of London with suspiciously fresh bodies for dissection. > </quote> > > This case led to legislation that ultimately saw the end of body- > snatching in this country. > > * Published by Pimlico (a Random House imprint) 2005 > ISBN 1-8441-3330-3 > > First published by Jonathan Cape 2004. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~