Grave Dealings: Body Snatching in Philadelphia, 1762-1883

This new history explores the social, cultural, practical and legal history of body snatching in America's first capital city.

In the 18th century the first American medical school was established in Philadelphia. Following the model of European universities, anatomical lectures were conducted with cadavers. But where did the bodies come from? Dissection was viewed as a fate worse than death, and the only legal source of “stiffs” was executed criminals. But there were not enough. As the medi...