Meta Description- This article analyses the history of using human cadavers and how it changed in the 20th century. Read this article to know more about human cadavers.
History of the use of Human Cadavers
The usage of human cadavers started back in the third century of ancient Greece. The history of the use of human cadavers is full of dissension, discoveries, advances, and discussions. Two physicians, Herophilus of Chalcedon and Erasistratus of Ceos, started using human cadavers in ancient Greece.
These two physicians started to learn anatomy; they practiced dissection in Alexandria. After their death, the concept of dissection also disappeared. The practise was revived again in the 12th century and then in the 14th century in Italy. People were against it because of their religious beliefs and esthetic taboos. However, later in the 17th century, it started becoming popular.
How has the situation changed after the 17th century?
Prior to the dissection of human bodies, the research on medicines was done on animals, and it examined just the human bones. But, in the 17th century, things changed slightly, and researchers started using the bodies of criminals for performing the dissection.
Although even in the 18th century, it was considered immoral, unethical, and dishonoring, it was not illegal. In 1231, a statement was released by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II that dissection could be performed on human bodies once in five years for scientific advancement.
The names of the people who attended and performed the dissection should be noted. The first sanctioned human dissection was done back in 300 B.C. publicly by Mondino de Liuzzi.
It was assumed that none or a very few people would come to see the dissection, but it was the opposite. Many people came and were keen to know how the process would be performed. In fact, numerous students from all over Europe began studying medicine as it instilled enthusiasm in them.
As time passed, the religious moderation related to dissection was relaxed to a great extent as people saw that multiple discoveries and advancements were being made because of dissection. Still, many people had opposing views on it.
Whose bodies were used for dissection?
Using human bodies was a big cause of concern as to whose bodies will be used for dissection because no one would allow their family members to be used in such a manner. It was decided that they would use the bodies of executed criminals, particularly by hanging.
It was not going to be easy as most of the criminals whose crimes “warranted” dissection, their relatives viewed dissection to be more petrified and disgraceful than the offense or death punishment itself. There were fights and riots all around by the relatives and friends of the deceased person whose body was to be dissected. They tried to stop the delivery of the corpse from the place of hanging to the dissection location.
The governments played smart and benefited from this situation, and they used dissection as a threat against committing severe crimes. Things were going out of hand; anatomists tried to find different ways of getting bodies. They started using unethical means such as body-snatching of the poor, grave robbing, etc.
This chaos continued for a long time. In 1830, the State of Massachusetts enacted a law that allowed anatomists to use unclaimed bodies for dissection. Later, in 1968, the United States passed a new Act to protect the rights of the whole body donors and their families. It gained popularity worldwide in the 20th century when people realized the importance of dissection, and this positive promotion led to willing body donors.
This is how the use of human cadavers started in the 3rd century and got acceptance in the 20th century.
FAQs
Q1. Why are cadavers required for dissection?
A1. Cadavers provide human anatomy information, render details on how diseases impact the human body, and enable doctors to practise and perfect techniques.
Q2. Why do researchers require cadavers?
A2. Researchers use cadavers to develop new medical devices, improve drug delivery, and do cancer research.
Q3. When did the first official dissection take place?
A3. The first official dissection took place at the University of Bologna in 1315.
Q4. What was the rule passed in 1789?
A4. In 1789, New York enacted a law to criminalize the grave robbing practise, which was prevalent at that period to source bodies for dissection.
Q5. Why were the anatomical theaters made?
A5. They were made in the 17th century when a huge crowd wanted to see the dissection process with their own eyes.
