TheArtofDissec.on:TheMeaningsBehindHumanSpecimens
“[T]herepeateddissec0onofthehumanbodyisnecessarybeforeanystudentofmedicineshouldbe
allowedtotakechargeofthehealthandlivesofthecommunity.Nowomaninchildbirth,nopersonthe
vic0mofaccident,nosuffererfromdiseaseissafeinthehandsofmenignorantofthestructureofthe
humanbody.”
W.S.Forbes,HistoryoftheAnatomyActofPennsylvania(Philadelphia:ThePhiladelphiaMedical
PublishingCompany,1898),21.
LearningObjec.ves
ThroughexaminingimagesfromtheMementoMüGerexhibit(memento.muGermuseum.org),in-class
discussion,andindependentresearchstudentswill…
•
…examinetheacquisiLonanduseofhumanspecimensfromavarietyofhistoricaland
contemporaryperspecLves.
•
…criLcallyexamineacontroversialsubjectfromnumerousviewpoints.
•
…researchaperspecLveonasocialandculturalissueandmakeapersuasiveargument.
TimeRequiredforLesson:1-2classsessions(oneforanoverviewofthematerialsandonefora
historicaldebate)
ClassPrepara.on
TheinstructorshouldbringuptheMementoMüGersiteforreferenceandtopresentVisual
Demonstra/ons.
AnswerstoStudentWorksheets:[email protected]
AcademicStandards
CommonCoreStandards
CC.8.5.9-10.A-B,D-F,H-I
CC.8.5.11-12.A-I
CC.8.1.9.A-C
CC.8.2.9.A,C-D
CC.8.3.9.A,C-D
CC.8.1.12.B-C
CC.8.2.12.A,C-D
CC.1.2.9-10.A-I,K-L
CC.1.3.9-10.A-C,F,I-K
CC.1.4.9-10.A-L,Q-S,U-W
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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CC.1.5.9-10.B-D,G
2
CC.1.2.11-12.A-B,D-G,I,L
CC.1.3.11-12.B-F,I,K
CC.1.4.11-12.A-L,Q-S,V-W
KeyTerms
ClinicalDetachment:Astatewhereinamedicalprofessionalisabletodistancehimorherselffroma
paLentandactasanobjecLveobserver.
Immunosuppressant:AtypeofmedicaLondesignedtosuppressapaLent’simmunesystem.
AdministeredtopreventapaLent’simmunesystemfromrejecLngtransplantedorgansorLssue.
Plas.na.on:ApreservaLonprocessdevelopedbyGuntherVonHagenswherethebody’swaterandfat
arereplacedwithresin.
Resurrec.onist:Anicknameforsomeonewhoillegallyobtainsandsellshumanremains.
TransplantDona.on:DonaLoninwhichspecificorgansorLssues,suchashearts,kidneys,orskin,are
donatedtoalivesubject.
UnclaimedBody:Abodyofanindividualforwhomnoonehascomeforwardtoclaim.Abodythatwill
beburiedatstateexpense.
UniformAnatomicalGiPAct:UniformLawthatprovidesalegalframeworkfortheacquisiLon,
distribuLon,anduseofdonatedhumanspecimensintheUnitedStates.
WholeBodyDona.on:DonaLoninwhichaperson’senLrebodyisdonatedforinstrucLonorresearch.
WilledDona.on:HumanspecimendonaLonvoluntarilyprovidedbytheindividualorlegally-mandated
representaLve.
LectureMaterialsforInstructor
Ini/alAc/vity:AtthestartofclasshaveyourstudentsexploreMementoMüGerforthemselves,either
individuallyoringroups.Askthemtodescribehowseeingtheimagesmakesthemfeel,ciLngspecific
objectsinthecollecLonthatresonatedwiththem.AsaclasshavestudentssharetheirreacLonsand
havethemaGempttoexplaintheiremoLons.Thedisplayofhumanremainscanevokedifferent
emoLons,fromintrigueandcuriosity,toshock,fearorrevulsion.
Thenasagroup,havetheclassaGempttolistdifferentusesforhumanremainsandwritethemonthe
board.UsetheseusesasastarLngpointfordiscussinghowhumanspecimenshavebeenacquiredand
usedinboththepastandpresent.
UsethisassessmentasastarLngpointforexaminingtheuseofhumanspecimens.Throughdiscussion
quesLonsandvisualdemonstraLonsprovidedviaMementoMüGerthislessonwilladdressthree
quesLons:
Whobecomesaspecimen?
Howarespecimensobtained?
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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Forwhatpurposesarespecimensused?
Part1:Whoarethespecimens?
MarginalizedGroups
Historically,anatomicalspecimensmostfrequentlycamefrommarginalizedgroupsof
people,suchasnonwhites(forexample,NaLveAmericansandAfricanAmericans),the
imprisoned,andthepoor.Thoseburiedattheexpenseofthestatecouldbesubjectto
anatomicaldissecLon.Theseincludedprisoners,especiallyexecutedcriminals;theverypoor,
whocouldnotaffordaburial;andanyonewhohadneithertheresourcesorthesocialnetwork
toprovideforaburial.Iftheseindividualswerenotturnedoverbythestate,theirremainscould
alsobeatriskofgraverobbing.Asaresult,nonwhites,thepoor,andfriendlesswerethemost
likelytoenduponadissecLontableinthe18thand19thcenturies.
TheHyrtlskullcollecLonattheMüGerMuseumisarepresentaLveexample.Insome
cases,19th-centuryVienneseanatomistJosephHyrtlprintedbriefdescripLonsoftheperson’s
name,occupaLon,causeofdeath,andanydefininganatomicalcharacterisLcsontheskullitself.
AmongthepeopleinhiscollecLonswereexecutedprisoners,laborers,soldierskilledincombat,
sailors(whopresumablydiedabroadwithnorelaLvesorfriendstoclaimtheirremains),vicLms
ofsuicide,andindividualswhodiedincharityhospitalsandhousesofthepoor.
Someexamples:
AdalbertCzap0eonesz,age51:Catholic,suicide.Cuthisthroatbecauseofextreme
poverty.
Rai-Tao-Si:Famouscriminal,guiltyofmanyatroci0es.Capturedwithtenofhisbandin
Batavia(nowJakarta).HangedincastleofSemarang(Java).
AndreaDolabella,Age32:Catholic,railwaylaborer.DiedinCharityHospital,Vienna,of
sep0cinfec0onandcomplicatedfracture.
SpecimenDona.onToday
TodayspecimendonaLonsfallintooneoftwocategories:transplantdonaLons,whereoneor
severalorgansorLssuesareofferedasdonaLonsfortransplantintoalivingsubject(i.e.kidney,heart,
skin),andwholebodydonaLons,wheretheenLrebodyisdonated.
WilledDona.ons
Today,themajorityofhumancadaversusedintheUnitedStatesarewilleddonaLons,
whereindividualshavevoluntarilyoptedtohavetheirbodiesdonatedtoscienceaiertheir
death.Individualspreparearrangementsthroughstateanatomicalboards,medicalschools,
researchfaciliLes,oroneofanumberofbodydonaLoncompanies,suchasMedCure,BioGii,
andUnitedTissueNetwork(UTN).1
1Foralistofdonorprogramsperstate,see:“USPrograms,”AnatomicalBoardoftheStateofFlorida,hGp://
anatbd.acb.med.ufl.edu/usprograms/,accessedApril1,2016.MedCurehGp://medcure.org/;BioGi],hGp://
www.biogii.org/about-biogii-anatomical.php;UTN,hGp://unitedLssue.org/.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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Aierdeath,thedonor’sbodyisassessedtodeterminewhetheritisacceptablefor
donaLon.FactorsthatcouldcauseadonaLontoberejectedincludeseverebodilyinjuries,
extensiverecentsurgery,andinfecLousdiseases,suchashepaLLsandHIV.
ThedistribuLonofhumanbodiesformedicalinstrucLonandresearchisoverseenby
stateanatomicalboards.InPennsylvaniathisorganizaLonistheHumanityGiisRegistry.2
Aierresearchonthebodyhasbeencompleted,theremainsarecrematedandeither
buriedbytherespecLveorganizaLonorreturnedtotheindividual’sfamily.
UnclaimedBodies
TodayonlyasmallpercentageofcadaversintheUSareunclaimedbodies.Theseare
remainsforwhomnorelaLveshavecomeforwardtoclaimforburial.Examplesofunclaimed
bodiesincludehomelessindividuals,individualsforwhomnofamilymemberscanbelocated,or
thosewhosefamilymembershavedeclinedacceptance(usuallyforfinancialorpersonal
reasons).Bodiesthatareunclaimedaregenerallypresentedtostateandlocalanatomicalboards
whoassessbodiesbasedonphysicalcondiLonandpassageofLmeaierdeath.InPennsylvania,
roughly1%ofhumansubjectsareunclaimedbodies.Bodiesmustbeembalmedwithin4-5
deathsaierdeathtosLllbeviablesubjects.AswithwilleddonaLons,theyalsomustbefreeof
infecLousdiseasesorviolentinjuries.3
TransplantDona.ons
Op.nginasanorgandonor
InPennsylvania,individuals18yearsofageoroldercanbecomeanorgandonoreither
byregisteringonlineoropLnginwhenobtainingorrenewingadriver’slicenseorstate
idenLficaLoncard.Individualsundertheageof18canalsobecomeanorganorLssuedonorin
PennsylvaniaprovidedtheyobtainwriGenconsentfromaparentorguardian. 4Generally,a
humancadavercannotbeacceptedasawholebodydonaLoniftheyarealsoanorgandonor.
TheoneexcepLontothisruleisinthecaseofcorneadonaLons.
Part2:Howarespecimensobtained?
Legally
AnatomyActs
Beginninginthe11thcentury,medicalprofessionalsbegantochallengeearliertaboos
abouthumanbodies,arguinginfavorofusinghumansubjectsfordissecLon.Bythe1800s,it
wascommonpracLceforaspiringphysicianstopracLcetechniquesonhumanbodies,either
livingordead.SurgeriesinteachinghospitalswereperformedinoperaLngtheatreswhere
2“TheRoleoftheHumanityGiisRegistry,”hGp://www.hgrpa.org/our-role.html,accessedMarch30,2016.
3InterviewwithClarizaMurray,HumanityGiisRegistry,March30,2016.
4“OrganDonaLoninPennsylvania,”DMV.org,hGps://www.dmv.org/pa-pennsylvania/organ-donor.php,accessed
March25,2016.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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studentsobservedproceduresconductedonlivepaLents,whobeforetheadventofanestheLcs
wereawakeandawarethroughtheprocedure!
Withtheriseofanatomicalstudycameariseinthedemandforhumanspecimens,but
wherewouldphysiciansobtainthenecessaryspecimens?Inordertokeepupwiththegrowing
demand,localandstategovernmentspassedAnatomyActstosetasidehumanremainsfor
study.In1866,acommiGeeofthreefellowsofTheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia—
WilliamS.Forbes,SamuelD.Gross,andD.HayesAgnew—draiedthetextoftheAnatomyActof
Pennsylvania.TheStateLegislaturepassedtheActlaterthatyear.TheAnatomyActallowed
physicianstouseasdissecLonsubjectsanyremainsassignedtobeburiedatpublicexpense,
includingprisonersandtheverypoor.
PersonalTissueandBodyDona.ons
Today,humanLssueandwholebodydonaLonsarecoveredundertheUniform
AnatomicalGiiAct(UAGA).TheUniformLawCommissioncomposedthebillatthe1968Annual
MeeLngoftheAmericanBarAssociaLonatthePhiladelphiaCivicCenter.UAGAprovidesa
(generally)universallegalframeworktoregulatetheacquisiLon,distribuLon,anduseof
donatedhumanspecimens.TheUAGAhasbeenpassedineachofthe50states(withsome
slightvariaLonsinthewordinginsomestates).Therehavealsobeentwosubsequentrevisions
(1987and2006)andfourstates(ConnecLcut,Florida,Oregon,andWestVirginia)havemade
addiLonalrevisionssince2006.Allbuttenstatesoperateunderthe2006version.5 TheActallowsanyoneovertheageof18and“ofsoundmind”therighttodonate
organs,Lssue,ortheirwholebodytoscience.Ifthedonorisunabletospeakonhisorherown
behalf,asecondpartywhoisauthorizedtospeakfortheperson(calledthe“decedent”inthe
law)canmakethedonaLondecisiononthedecedent’sbehalf.Thatpersoncanbeafamily
member,guardian,oranyotherlegallyobligatedpersonprovidedthedecisiontodonatedoes
notcontradicttheexpressedwillofthedecedent.Theremainscanbereceivedbythefollowing
groups(called“donees”):hospitals,surgeons,physicians,medicalcolleges,academic
insLtuLons,organbanks/storagefaciliLes,oranyindividualforwhomthesamplewillassistin
healthortherapy.ThelawsLpulatesthedonaLoncanonlybeused“formedicalordental
educaLon,research,advancementofmedicalordentalscience,therapy,ortransplantaLon.”6 Thefederalgovernmentbannedthesaleofhumanorgansin1984,withthepassageofthe
NaLonalOrganTransplantAct.
Illegally
Bodysnatching/Resurrec.onism
HumandissecLonforinstrucLongraduallyenteredthemedicalinstrucLoncurriculum
aroundthe10thcentury.Asitroseinprominence,sodidtheneedforcadavers.However,the
5LegalInformaLonInsLtute,CornellUniversityLawSchool,“WhatAreUniformLaws?,”hGps://
www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/uniform,accessedFebruary23,2016;U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHuman
Services,“StateOrganDonaLonLegislaLon,”hGp://www.organdonor.gov/legislaLon_micro/,accessedFebruary
23,2016.
6UniformAnatomicalGi]Act9.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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supplycreatedfromprisoners,thepoor,andtheunclaimedrapidlyprovedinadequatetokeep
pacewiththedemand.Asaresult,anillegalmarketofhumanbodytraffickingemerged.Known
bymanynames—“ResurrecLon-Men,““CorpseStealers,”“ResurrecLonists,”“Sack-‘Em-Up
Men”—theenterprisingexhumedrecentlyburiedbodiesfromcemeteriestosellthemto
medicalcollegesasspecimens.Inotherinstances,physiciansorresurrecLonmenbribed
undertakersforearlyaccesstotherecentlydeceased.Someaspiringbodysnatcherseven
resortedtomurderingunsuspecLngvicLmsandsellingtheirremainstomedicalschools.The
pracLcecametobeknownas“Burking”aiertheinfamousWilliamBurke,whoalongwithhis
partnerWilliamHaremurderedatleast16peopleandsoldtheirremainstomedicalschoolsin
GreatBritain.7
Inresponse,stateandlocalgovernmentscreatedAnatomyActstocombatillegalbody
dealers.However,inmanycasesthepracLceconLnuedastheneedforspecimensoutpacedthe
supply.Forexample,in1882,invesLgatorsuncoveredanillegalbodytradeoperaLngoutofthe
LebanonCemetery(formerlylocatedinWestPhiladelphiaatGirardandBelmontAvenues).In
December1882,thePhiladelphiaPressreportedthatresurrecLonistshadbeendisinterring
humanbodiesfromtheAfricanAmericanpubliccemeteryandsellingthemtothelocalmedical
colleges.AmongthoseimplicatedinthetradewasWilliamS.ForbesofJeffersonMedicalCollege
(thesameWilliamS.ForbeswhohadhelpedtodraitheAnatomyActofPennsylvaniain1867).8
“BodyBrokers”
EvenwiththelegalmeasuressuchasUAGAinplacetoprovidemedicalstudentsand
researcherswithsubjects,therearesLllscandalsinvolvingillegalbodytrades.In2008,Michael
Mastromarinowassentencedto58yearsinprisonforhisroleastheringleaderofanillegal
internaLonalhumanLssuetraffickingring.Mastromarinoandother“bodybrokers”established
abusinesswhereintheysuppliedvariousmedicalfirmswithhumanLssuesobtainedwithoutthe
permission(orknowledge)ofthelovedones.ThemostfamousvicLmofhisenterprisewasthe
BriLshjournalistAlistairCooke,whosebonesMastromarinoacquiredandsoldontheblack
marketfollowingCooke’sdeathin2004(causeofdeathwaslungcancerthathadspreadtohis
bones).9
Part3:Whataretheyusedfor?
LearningandInstruc.on
7SanjibKumarGhosh,“HumanCadevericDissecLon:AHistoricalAccountfromAncientGreecetotheModernEra,”
AnatomyandCellBiology,Vol.48,No.3(September2015):153-169.
8ErinMcCleary,“TheCuriousCaseofBodySntachingatLebanonCemetery,”HiddenCityPhiladelphiaApril13,
2015:hGp://hiddencityphila.org/2015/04/the-curious-case-of-body-snatching-at-lebanon-cemetery/.Accessed
March29,2015.
9KateWilson,VladLavrov,MarLnaKeller,andMichaelHudson,“BodyBrokersLeaveTrailofQuesLons,
CorrupLon,”Interna0onalConsor0umofInves0ga0veJournalists,July18,2012:hGp://www.icij.org/Lssue/bodybrokers-leave-trail-quesLons-corrupLonaccessedMarch29,2016.“AlistairCooke’sBodySnatcherApologises,”The
(London)Telegraph,June13,2008,hGp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2119443/Alistair-Cookes-body-snatcherapologises.htmlaccessedMarch29,2016.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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ThedissecLonofhumancadaversformedicalinstrucLondatesbacktothethirdcentury
B.C.E.However,thepracLcefelloutoffavorastheuseofhumanbodiesasspecimensclashed
withreligiousbeliefsoverthesancLtyofthebody.ToavoidviolaLngsocialtaboos,physicians
insteadreliedonthedissecLonofanimalsasaproxyforhumanspecimens,apracLcesolidified
bytheworkoftheGreekphysicianGalen.ChurchauthoriLesassociatedhumandissecLonwith
bodydesecraLonorpersonaluncleanlinessinpredominantlyJudeo-ChrisLanareasofEurope,
andthepracLcesofGalenremainedunquesLonedforcenturies.
Beginninginthe10thcenturyC.E.,physiciansintheArabworldmountedthefirstformal
challengestoGalen’sworksonanatomyanddissecLon.Byexamininghumancadavers,
physicianssuchasIbnZuhr(alsoknownasAvenzoar),Ibnal-Nafis,andMuhammadIbnRazi
(alsoknownasRhazes)foundinconsistenciesbetweentheirowndiscoveriesandGalen’s
observaLons.Asaresultoftheseandlaterchallenges,humandissecLongraduallyre-entered
themedicalcurriculum;meanwhilereligiousrestricLonsagainsthumandissecLonloosened.In
1543,BelgianphysicianAndreasVesaliuspublishedDeHumaniCorporisFabrica(TheFabricof
theHumanBody),thefirstmajoranatomicaltreaLsebasedonexamininghumancadavers.10
ExperimentalprocedureswereoienconducteduponlivepaLents,usuallyfrom
marginalizedgroups.InEnglandthroughthe18thand19thcenturiesaspiringdoctorsreliedon
thepatronsofcharitablehospitals,exclusivelyuLlizedbythosewithoutthemonetarymeansto
payforprivatecare,astestsubjects.AccordingtohistorianRuthRichardson,“Inthedoctorcontrolledenvironmentofthecharitablehospital,thepaLents‘wouldconsLtutearelaLvely
passiveclientele,whichwouldbepowerlessinthefaceof,andunabletochallenge,medical
aimsanddemands,’therebyproviding‘anamblesourceofclinicalmaterial.’”11
Dr.JamesMarionSims,consideredbysomethefatherofmoderngynecology,
experimentedwithtechniquesingynecologicalsurgeryonthreeenslavedwomen,named
Anarcha,Lucy,andBetsey. 12
Usingcadaversandhumanbodypartsallowedforphysicianstolearnthebasicstructure
ofthehumanbody.
VisualDemonstra/on:CrossSec/onofPelvis
Ac0vity:Clickthroughtheannota0onsassociatedwiththeCrossSec0onof
Pelvis.Havetheclassobservehowthecrosssec0onhasbeeninjectedwithaspecialdye
toshowthebloodvessels.Askstudentshowthisspecimencouldbeusefulformedical
10RabieE.Abdel-Halim,“ContribuLonsofIbnZuhr(Avenzoar)totheProgressofSurgery,”SaudiMedicalJournal,
Vol.26,No.9(2005):1333-1339;SanjibKumarGhosh,“HumanCadevericDissecLon:AHistoricalAccountfrom
AncientGreecetotheModernEra,”AnatomyandCellBiology,Vol.48,No.3(September2015):153-169.
11Richardson47.
12“RememberingAnarcha,Lucy,andBetsey:TheMothersofModernGynecology,”NPR,February22,2016,hGp://
www.npr.org/2016/02/16/466942135/remembering-anarcha-lucy-and-betsey-the-mothers-of-moderngynecology?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social,accessedMarch23,
2016.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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students.(Aspecimensuchasthisisusefulinillustra0ngthesepartstoamedicalstudent
studyinganatomy.)
Medicalstudentsalsodissectbodiesinordertodevelopclinicaldetachment.One
anatomistdefinedthetermas“theabilitytodistanceoneselffromthepaLenttobeanobjecLve
observer,whocanservewithempathyforthegoodofthepaLent.”13
Scien.ficandMedicalResearch
HumanspecimensareimportanttoolsforresearcherstobeGerunderstandthebodyas
wellasthecauses,impact,andpossiblecuresofphysicaldisorders.
VisualDemonstra/on:HarryEastlack
Clickthroughtheannota0onsassociatedwithHarryEastlack’sremains.Askthestudents
topointoutanythingunusualtheysee.
Eastlackwasdiagnosedwithfibrodysplasiaossififcansprogressiva(FOP),arare
geneLcdisorderwherethebody’sconnecLveLssueconvertsintobone.Priortohis
deathfrompneumoniain1973,Eastlackrequestedhisskeletonbeusedtoexpand
scienLficunderstandingofFOP.
JosephHyrtlandhisskulls(tocounterphrenology)
VienneseanatomistJosephHyrtlcollectedhundredsofskulls,whichhe
examinedinordertodisprovethepracLceofphrenology.Today139ofhisskullsarepart
oftheMüGerMuseum’scollecLon.
Humanbodieshavealsobeentestsubjectsinexperimentsmeasuringtheeffects
ofdecayandphysicaltrauma.Forexample,theUniversityofTennesseeAnthropological
ResearchFacilityinKnoxville,TN,studieshumandecomposiLonbysubjecLngcadavers
todifferentcondiLonstomeasurehowtheydecay.Theresearchconductedatthe“Body
Farm”isusefulinforensicscases.14
DiscussionPoint:AskthestudentswhattheythinkwouldmoLvateapersontodonatetheir
bodytomedicalresearch.
SavingLives
TheearliestLssuetransplantsinvolvedgraisforbone,skin,andcorneasintheearly
1900s.In1954,Dr.JosephMurrayperformedthefirstsuccessfulorgantransplantwhenhe
transplantedakidneyfromonepaLenttohistwinbrother.Today,organdonaLonintheUnited
13SabineHildebrandt,“DevelopingEmpathyandClinicalDetachmentDuringtheDissecLonCourseinGross
Anatomy,”AnatomicalScienceEduca0on,Vol.3,No.4(2010),216.
14“TheForensicAnthropologyResearchCenter,”UniversityofTennesseeKnoxvilleDepartmentofAnthropology,
hGp://web.utk.edu/~fac/,accessedApril1,2016.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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StatesisoverseenbytheUnitedNetworkforOrganSharing(UNOS).15UNOSmaintainsthe
naLonaltransplantwaiLnglistforpaLentsawaiLngorgandonaLonandmatchesthesepaLents
withpotenLaldonors.Dependingontheorgan/Lssuesinvolvedinthetransplant,donorsmaybe
livingordeceased.
Followingsurgery,recipientsoforgandonaLonsmusttakearegimenofspecial
medicaLon,knownasimmunosuppressants,thatimpedethebody’simmunesystemfrom
rejecLngtheneworgan.RecipientsremainonanL-rejecLondrugsfortherestoftheirlives.
Exhibi.on:BodiesasLessons,BodiesasArt
TheMü`erMuseum
In1858,physicianThomasDentMüGerleimorethan1700arLfactsandhuman
specimenstoTheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphiatofounda“pathologicalmuseum.”Today
theMüGerMuseumhousesavastcollecLonofwetanddryspecimensdesignedtodemonstrate
thehumanhistoryofanatomyandmedicine.(Youandyourstudentscanobservesamplesofthe
Museum’sextensivecollecLonofspecimensthroughMementoMüGer).InaleGertothe
CollegeofferinghiscollecLonandthefoundingoftheMüGerMuseum,Dr.MüGersoughtthe
MuseumtobeaplaceofinstrucLonandadvancementofthemedicalfield.Herequiredmedical
studentsreceivefreeadmissiontotheMuseum,andthatpaperandinkbesuppliedtoanyone
whowantedtodrawortakenotesonanyspecimenondisplay.HealsocalledfortheCollegeto
hireanewspeakereverythreeyearstodeliverlectureseriesattheMuseum.16
ThespecimensintheMüGerMuseum’scollecLondemonstratethehumananatomy,
displayuniqueorunusualanatomicalspecimens,andexhibitthetoolsandtechniquesofthe
medicalprofession.TheobjectondisplayservessimultaneouslyasasinglerepresentaLonofthe
objectitselfaswellasallinstancesofthatparLcularobject.
VisualDemonstra/on:HandswithGout
Clickthroughtheannota0onsfortheHandswithGout.Thehandshaveswollenmasses
(knownastophi)thataretheresultofanexcessbuildupofuricacidinthebodyduetoinac0vity
andpoordiet.Thehandsdemonstratetoobservershowthediseaseaffectspartofthebody.
Thesehandsrepresentoneindividualwhosufferedfromgout.(Unfortunately,the
idenLtyofthepersontowhomthesehandsbelongedisunknown).Theyalsoserveasan
exampleofhowgoutaffectsthehumanbody.Alaypersonormedicalprofessionalcouldobserve
theswollenmassesandassociatethemwiththedisease.
However,theexhibiLonofhumanremainsisacontroversialsubject.Oneofthemore
publictargetsofcriLcismovertheuseandexhibiLonofbodiesistheBodyWorldsexhibit.
DevelopedbyanatomistGuntherVonHagens,theexhibitisademonstraLonofpartsandwhole
15hGps://www.unos.org/about/.
16ThomasDentMüGertotheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia,May20-June11,1856,CollegeofPhysiciansof
PhiladelphiaCommiGeeonthePathologicalMuseumofDr.MüGer.Records1856-1859.HistoricalLibraryofthe
CollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia,Box1,CPP10/0016-01.CollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia–CommiGeeon
thePathologicalMuseumofDr.MüGer,“ArLclesofAgreement,”December11,1858,CPP10/0016-02
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
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bodyremainssubjectedtoplasLnaLon,aprocessdevelopedbyVonHagenswhereinthebody’s
waterandfatarereplacedbyaspecializedresin.VonHagenshastouredtheworldwithtraveling
exhibiLonsoftheplasLnatedremainsknownasBodyWorlds.Thebodiesthemselvesare
presentedinarLsLcorlifelikeposes,suchasplayingsports,dancing,orrecreaLngfamousworks
ofart.VonHagensfoundedhisownmuseum,theMenschenMuseum,inBerlinin2015.17 CriLcsofBodyWorldsciteavarietyofconcernswiththeexhibit.Somearguedthatthe
displaysappealtoshockvalue.OthershavecriLcizedtheexhibiLonofhumanremains,ciLng
respectforthedeceasedandarguingthattheexhibiLonofthesubjectscheapensthehuman
formandexploitstheirbodiesforprofit.SLllothershavecalledintoquesLonwhetherthe
specimensondisplayinBodyWorldsandsimilarexhibiLonshavebeenlegallyorethically
obtained.Ontheotherhand,advocatesandsupportershavearguedfortheeducaLonaland
arLsLcmeritofthespecimens.18 Trophies
SpecimenscanalsobeademonstraLonofaphysician’sskillintheirfieldofexperLse.Aspartof
thecondiLonsofhisdonaLon,Dr.MüGerrequiredwheneversomeonedonatedanarLfactorspecimen
tothemuseumfordisplay“thenameofthedonorshallbeaGachedtoit,insomeconspicuousplace.” 19
ReferringbacktotheBodyWorldsdisplay,itcanbearguedthattheexhibiLonisademonstraLonofVon
Hagens’plasLnaLontechnique.
VisualDemonstra/on:74PoundOvarianCyst
Rotatetheimagetodemonstratethesizeofthisirregularlylargeovariancyst.Thecyst
wasremovedbyWashingtonLemuelAtlee(1808-1878).Dr.AtleewasaPhiladelphia
gynecologicalsurgeonwhopioneerednewsurgicaltechniquesingynecologicalprocedures.An
extrac0onthislargedemonstratedAtlee’ssurgicalprowess.However,duringtheperiodinwhich
heextractedit,thehealthofthepa0entwaso]ensecondarytothedevelopmentofthe
procedure.Itisnotclearwhetherthepa0entinthissurgery,knownonlyas“MissS.M.,”
survived.Theremovalwaslikelyconductedwithanesthesia.Therewasariskatthe0meofpostopera0veinfec0on,asan0sep0csurgicaltechniqueshadnotyetbeendeveloped.
Punishment(“SentencedtoScience”)
Surgeonsoienclaimedtheremainsofexecutedcriminals,andturningoveraconvicted
criminal’sremainstoanatomistsaierdeathwasacommonpunishmentenforcedinGreat
BritainandtheUnitedStates.In1752,GreatBritainenactedthepracLceofturningover
executedcriminalsconvictedofmurder.AccordingtohistorianRuthRichardson,sentencingof
dissecLonasapunishmentformurderhadtheaddedpunishmentofdenyingtheconvictedthe
righttoaburialwiththeaddedhopethatthefearofthispunishmentaierdeathwouldhelp
17“MenschenMuseum,”hGp://www.memu.berlin/en/exhibiLon/menschen-museum/,accessedApril4,2016.
18LauraLloyd-Braff,“BodyWorlds:AnExhibitthatReallyGetsUndertheSkin,”e-Vision,Vol.7(2007),hGps://
www.jmu.edu/evision/Volume7/Lloyd-Braff.pdf,accessedApril4,2016.
19
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
11
serveasadeterrencetocrime.20Executedcriminalswerefrequentlyincludedasusable
specimensunderAnatomyActs.
VisualExample:BrainofaPresiden/alAssassin
Rotateandexaminetheannota0onsassociatedwiththebrainsegmentofCharlesJ.
Guiteau.Doyourstudentsseeanythingunusualinthespecimen?(PhysiciansaGemptedtodo
thesamething.)
OnJuly2,1881,GuiteaushotPresidentJamesGarfieldwhilehewaswaiLngata
Washington,DC,trainstaLon.HisapparentmoLvewasrevengeoverbeingdeniedapoliLcal
appointmentasanambassador.GarfielddiedonSeptember19,1881,duetoacombinaLonof
thegunshotwoundsandinfecLonbroughtuponbythedoctorsaGempLngtotreathim.Guiteau
wasputontrial,inoneoftheearliestusesofaninsanitydefenseinAmericanhistory.Hewas
convictedandexecutedbyhangingonJune30,1882.
FollowinghisexecuLon,doctorsfromtheArmyMedicalMuseuminWashington,DC,
dissectedGuiteautodetermineiftherewasamedicalcauseforhisinstability.Intheir
invesLgaLonofGuiteau’spsyche,thephysiciansextractedhisbraintofindabnormaliLes,and
thisporLonofhisbrainremainsinthecollecLonofTheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia.
Debrief
Referbacktothelistfromtheoutsetofclass.AsktheclassiftheyhaveanyaddiLonalusesfor
humanspecimensandremainstheywouldliketoadd.Askthemtoconsidertherolebothofthepeople
usingthespecimensandthepeoplewhobecomethespecimensthemselves. StudentAc/vity:LivingHistoryDiscussion
Thesubjectofanatomicalspecimenscoversavarietyofcomplexissues,suchasscienLficinquiryand
achievement,spectacleandexhibiLon,andtheroleofmarginalizedgroupsinmedicineandsociety.
TheseissuescanbeapproachedfromavarietyofperspecLvesandviewpoints.ThisacLvityisdesigned
tochallengestudentstoaddresstheseissuesfromdifferentperspecLves.
Eachstudentselectsaroletoportrayfromthefollowing(alternaLvely,rolescanbeassignedbythe
instructor).
Assign(orhavestudentschoose)fromthefollowing:
•
ThomasDentMüGer,founderoftheMüGerMuseum
•
JosephHyrtl,collectoroftheHyrtlSkullCollecLon
•
GunthervonHagens,founderofBodyWorlds
•
WilliamS.Forbes,authoroftheAnatomyActofPennsylvania
20RuthRichardson,Death,Dissec0onandtheDes0tute,2ndEdiLon(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,2000),
35-37.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
12
•
ApersonwhoserelaLve’sbodywastakenfromtheLebanonCemetery
•
Abodysnatcher(suchasMr.CruncherfromATaleofTwoCi0es,seebelow)
•
ApersonwhoisanorgandonorordonaLnghisorherbodytoscience
•
Arecipientofadonatedorgan
•
Aprisonerwhosebodywillbeturnedovertomedicalresearchaierdeath
Throughindependentresearch,andusingtheaGachedwriLngsamplesasastarLngpoint,eachspeaker
composesashortstatementexplaininghisorherstanceontheuseandpurposeofhumanfromthe
perspecLveoftheircharacter.EachstudentresearchestheperspecLveofthesubjectfromvalidsources
(speeches,leGers,journals,researchedandcitedhistoricalbooksandwebsites,etc.)todevelopabrief
statementexplainingthesubject’sviewontheissue(TheaGachedreadingassignmentsarealsouseful
starLngpoints.).CollecLvely,thestudentsassumingrolesserveasapanelorpressconference.(Students
cantrytoassumethegarbormannerismsofthespeakerforextracredit!)
TheotherstudentsintheclasswillassumetherolesofjournalistswhowilldevelopaseriesofquesLons
toaskthemembersofthepanel.ThesequesLonsaredesignedtohavethepanelistsdefendorclarify
theirposiLons.QuesLonscanbedirectedataspecificormulLplepanelswiththegoalofcreaLnga
forumtodebatedifferentperspecLves.Iftheinstructorwantstoaddanotherlevelofresearch
complexitytothequesLons,havethejournalistsrepresentaspecificnewsource(i.e.TheNewYork
Times,FoxNews,PopularScience,Chris0anityToday),thenhavethestudentresearchthatsource’s
opinionontheissueanddevelopquesLonstoreflectthesource’sviewpoint.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
Wri.ngSample
13
JosephHyrtland“TheArtofDissec.on”
ReadthepassageandanswerthequesLonsbelow.
“ThenamingofAnatomy‘theartofdissecLon’showsthegreatimportanceofitstechnicalfieldofwork.
Theartoftheanatomistprocuresandpreparesthematerialintowhichthesciencehastobreathethe
breathoflife.
“TheanatomiststoresawaythefruitsofhispracLcalindustryinhismuseums.Thesemuseumsmakehis
scienLficworld.Ofwhoseveryexistence,onlyprofessionalmentakeknowledge.Inthearrangementof
them,hehas,asarule,lesstodowiththebeautythanwiththecorrectnessandusefulnessofthe
preparaLons.
“Butifitisrequiredofhimtoplacetheworkofhishandsbeforetheeyeandjudgmentofthepublic,
thenhemusttakecarethatitshowsitselfinitspre•estdress,inorderthatthesecrethorrorwhichasa
rulecreepsontheobserverofanatomicalobjects,maybedissolvedinacknowledgementand
admiraLonofthebeautyandskillofitspreparaLon.
“AmongthepreparaLonsofmycollecLonIhavethereforechosenonlythosewhichareadaptedtobe
representedinasperfectaformaspossible.Acorrectjudgmentwillacknowledgethatapartfromthe
scienLficsignificanceofmyexhibit,itsbeautyisraisedtounaccustomedmagnificenceandAnatomy
ceasestobethesbarruta[sbaGuta?]scienzaofDantewhenitappearsbeforetheviewofcounisseur
[sic]withsuchqualiLesasarepresentedtoview.
“ThevalueofthesepreparaLonsisincreasedfromthefactthatintheiruseinpublicinstrucLon,not
onlyisrespectinspiredforasciencewhichknowshowtoprocuresuchmeansofinstrucLon,butalsoto
awakenloveforitself;andthetalentsofmanyayoungmanaresLrreduptobecomemoreinLmately
acquaintedwithadepartmentofstudywhichisacknowledgedtoaffordthebestandsurest,becausethe
eternallytruefoundaLonofallhismedicalstudies.”
Passagefrom“ProfessorHyrtl’sAnatomicalPreparaLonsattheWorld’sFairExposiLoninVienna,1873.”
Ques.ons
1. Whatisthecentralargumentofthepassage?
2. HowdidJosephHyrtl’sbackgroundshapehisviewpointonthesubjectofanatomicaldisplay?
3. HowdoesHyrtldisLnguishbetweentheuseofspecimensforfellowphysiciansandtheuseof
themforthepublic?
4. Hyrtldescribesanatomyasanartform,callinguponobserverstoacknowledgethebeautyand
skillwithwhichtheyarepresented.DoyouagreewithHyrtl?Cananatomybeanartform?Why
orwhynot?Inwayscoulddisplayinganatomicalspecimensbeanartform?
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
Wri.ngSample
14
“TheAnatomyActofPennsylvania”(1867)
ReadthepassageandanswerthequesLonsbelow.
ANACTforthepromoLonofmedicalscience,andtopreventthetrafficinhumanbodies.
SecLon1.BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentaLvesoftheCommonwealthof
Pennsylvania,inGeneralAssemblymet,anditisherebyenactedbytheauthorityofthesame,Thatthe
InspectorsandSuperintendentofanycountyprison,theBoardofGuardiansofanyCityorCounty
Almshouse,theCoronerofanyCounty,oranyotherpublicofficerhavingchargethereoforcontrolover
thesame,shallgivepermissiontoanyphysicianorsurgeonofthesamecounty,uponhisrequestmade
therefor,totakethebodiesofsuchpersonsdyinginsuchprison,almshouse,orcounty,asarerequired
tobeburiedatthepublicexpense,tobebyhimusedwithintheStatefortheadvancementofmedical
science,preferencebeinggiventomedicalschools,publicandprivate;andsaidbodiestobedistributed
toandamongthesame,equitably,thenumberassignedtoeachbeingproporLonedtothatofits
students;provided,however,thatifthedeceasedperson,duringhisorherlastsickness,ofhisorher
ownaccord,shallrequesttobeburied;orifanyperson,claimingtobe,andsaLsfyingtheproper
authoriLesthatheisofkindredtothedeceased,shallasktohavethebodyforburial,itshallbe
surrenderedforinterment;or,ifsuchdeceasedpersonwasastrangerortraveler,whodiedsuddenly,the
bodyshallbeburies,andshallnotbehandedovertotheaforesaid.
SecLon2.Everyphysicianorsurgeon,beforereceivinganysuchdeadbody,shallgivetotheproper
authoriLessurrenderingthesametohim,asufficientbondthateachbodyshallonlybeusedforthe
promoLonofmedicalsciencewithinthisState,andwhosoevershallsellorbuysuchbodyorbodies,or
inanywaytrafficthesame,shallbedeemedguiltyofamisdemeanor,andshall,onconvicLon,be
imprisonedforatermnotexceedingfiveyears,hardlabor,inthecountyjail.
Ques.ons
1. Summarize,inyourownwords,thetextoftheAnatomyActofPennsylvania.HowistheAct
structured?
2. AccordingtotheAnatomyAct,forwhatusescouldmedicalprofessionalsacquirebodies?
3. Inthecontextofthetext,whatdoesitmeantobe“buriedatthepublicexpense”?
4. Definethefollowingtermsthatappearinthetext:
o
Almshouse
o
Deceased
o
Kindred
o
Misdemeanor
5. Whatisthepunishmentfortraffickinghumanbodies?
6. Inyouropinion,howshouldhumanspecimensbeused?Howshouldtheybeacquired?
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
15
Wri.ngSample
Resurrec.onMen:The“HonestCalling”
“Mr.Cruncher’sFriends,”Harper’sWeekly(July30,1859),485,HarpWeek.
ReadthefollowingexcerptfromCharlesDickens’ATaleofTwoCi0esandanswerthequesLonsbelow.
YoungJerry,whohadonlymadeafeintofundressingwhenhewenttobed,wasnotlongaierhisfather.
Undercoverofthedarknesshefollowedoutoftheroom,followeddownthestairs,followeddownthe
court,followedoutintothestreets.Hewasinnouneasinessconcerninghisge•ngintothehouseagain,
foritwasfulloflodgers,andthedoorstoodajarallnight.
ImpelledbyalaudableambiLontostudytheartandmysteryofhisfather'shonestcalling,YoungJerry,
keepingasclosetohousefronts,walls,anddoorways,ashiseyeswereclosetooneanother,heldhis
honouredparentinview.ThehonouredparentsteeringNorthward,hadnotgonefar,whenhewas
joinedbyanotherdiscipleofIzaakWalton,andthetwotrudgedontogether.
WithinhalfanhourfromthefirststarLng,theywerebeyondthewinkinglamps,andthemorethan
winkingwatchmen,andwereoutuponalonelyroad.Anotherfishermanwaspickeduphere—andthat
sosilently,thatifYoungJerryhadbeensupersLLous,hemighthavesupposedthesecondfollowerofthe
gentlecraitohave,allofasudden,splithimselfintotwo.
Thethreewenton,andYoungJerrywenton,unLlthethreestoppedunderabankoverhangingtheroad.
Uponthetopofthebankwasalowbrickwall,surmountedbyanironrailing.Intheshadowofbankand
wallthethreeturnedoutoftheroad,andupablindlane,ofwhichthewall—there,risentosomeeight
ortenfeethigh—formedoneside.Crouchingdowninacorner,peepingupthelane,thenextobjectthat
YoungJerrysaw,wastheformofhishonouredparent,preGywelldefinedagainstawateryandclouded
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
16
moon,nimblyscalinganirongate.Hewassoonover,andthenthesecondfishermangotover,andthen
thethird.Theyalldroppedsoilyonthegroundwithinthegate,andlaytherealiGle—listeningperhaps.
Then,theymovedawayontheirhandsandknees.
ItwasnowYoungJerry'sturntoapproachthegate:whichhedid,holdinghisbreath.Crouchingdown
againinacornerthere,andlookingin,hemadeoutthethreefishermencreepingthroughsomerank
grass!andallthegravestonesinthechurchyard—itwasalargechurchyardthattheywerein—lookingon
likeghostsinwhite,whilethechurchtoweritselflookedonliketheghostofamonstrousgiant.Theydid
notcreepfar,beforetheystoppedandstoodupright.Andthentheybegantofish.
Theyfishedwithaspade,atfirst.PresentlythehonouredparentappearedtobeadjusLngsome
instrumentlikeagreatcorkscrew.Whatevertoolstheyworkedwith,theyworkedhard,unLltheawful
strikingofthechurchclocksoterrifiedYoungJerry,thathemadeoff,withhishairassLffashisfather's.
But,hislong-cherisheddesiretoknowmoreaboutthesemaGers,notonlystoppedhiminhisrunning
away,butluredhimbackagain.TheyweresLllfishingperseveringly,whenhepeepedinatthegatefor
thesecondLme;but,nowtheyseemedtohavegotabite.Therewasascrewingandcomplainingsound
downbelow,andtheirbentfigureswerestrained,asifbyaweight.Byslowdegreestheweightbroke
awaytheearthuponit,andcametothesurface.YoungJerryverywellknewwhatitwouldbe;but,when
hesawit,andsawhishonouredparentabouttowrenchitopen,hewassofrightened,beingnewtothe
sight,thathemadeoffagain,andneverstoppedunLlhehadrunamileormore.
Hewouldnothavestoppedthen,foranythinglessnecessarythanbreath,itbeingaspectralsortofrace
thatheran,andonehighlydesirabletogettotheendof.Hehadastrongideathatthecoffinhehad
seenwasrunningaierhim;and,picturedashoppingonbehindhim,boltupright,uponitsnarrowend,
alwaysonthepointofovertakinghimandhoppingonathisside—perhapstakinghisarm—itwasa
pursuertoshun.Itwasaninconsistentandubiquitousfiendtoo,for,whileitwasmakingthewholenight
behindhimdreadful,hedartedoutintotheroadwaytoavoiddarkalleys,fearfulofitscominghopping
outofthemlikeadropsicalboy'sKitewithouttailandwings.Ithidindoorwaystoo,rubbingitshorrible
shouldersagainstdoors,anddrawingthemuptoitsears,asifitwerelaughing.Itgotintoshadowson
theroad,andlaycunninglyonitsbacktotriphimup.AllthisLmeitwasincessantlyhoppingonbehind
andgainingonhim,sothatwhentheboygottohisowndoorhehadreasonforbeinghalfdead.And
eventhenitwouldnotleavehim,butfollowedhimupstairswithabumponeverystair,scrambledinto
bedwithhim,andbumpeddown,deadandheavy,onhisbreastwhenhefellasleep.
[...]
Therewasnofishforbreakfast,andnotmuchofanythingelse.Mr.Cruncherwasoutofspirits,andout
oftemper,andkeptanironpot-lidbyhimasaprojecLleforthecorrecLonofMrs.Cruncher,incasehe
shouldobserveanysymptomsofhersayingGrace.Hewasbrushedandwashedattheusualhour,and
setoffwithhissontopursuehisostensiblecalling.
YoungJerry,walkingwiththestoolunderhisarmathisfather'ssidealongsunnyandcrowdedFleetstreet,wasaverydifferentYoungJerryfromhimofthepreviousnight,runninghomethroughdarkness
andsolitudefromhisgrimpursuer.Hiscunningwasfreshwiththeday,andhisqualmsweregonewith
thenight—inwhichparLcularsitisnotimprobablethathehadcompeersinFleet-streetandtheCityof
London,thatfinemorning.
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
17
"Father,"saidYoungJerry,astheywalkedalong:takingcaretokeepatarm'slengthandtohavethestool
wellbetweenthem:"what'saResurrecLon-Man?"
Mr.Crunchercametoastoponthepavementbeforeheanswered,"HowshouldIknow?"
"Ithoughtyouknowedeverything,father,"saidtheartlessboy.
"Hem!Well,"returnedMr.Cruncher,goingonagain,andliiingoffhishattogivehisspikesfreeplay,
"he'satradesman."
"What'shisgoods,father?"askedthebriskYoungJerry.
"Hisgoods,"saidMr.Cruncher,aierturningitoverinhismind,"isabranchofScienLficgoods."
"Persons'bodies,ain'tit,father?"askedthelivelyboy.
"Ibelieveitissomethingofthatsort,"saidMr.Cruncher.
"Oh,father,IshouldsoliketobeaResurrecLon-ManwhenI'mquitegrowedup!"
Mr.Cruncherwassoothed,butshookhisheadinadubiousandmoralway."Itdependsuponhowyou
dewelopyourtalents.Becarefultodewelopyourtalents,andnevertosaynomorethanyoucanhelpto
nobody,andthere'snotellingatthepresentLmewhatyoumaynotcometobefitfor."AsYoungJerry,
thusencouraged,wentonafewyardsinadvance,toplantthestoolintheshadowoftheBar,Mr.
Cruncheraddedtohimself:"Jerry,youhonesttradesman,there'shopeswotthatboywillyetbea
blessingtoyou,andarecompensetoyouforhismother!"
CharlesDickens,ATaleofTwoCi0es:AStoryoftheFrenchRevolu0on[Chapter14:TheHonest
Tradesman]
Ques.ons
1. DescribeYoungJerry’sreacLonwhenseeingthecoffin.
2. ExplainwhatDickensmeanswhenhedescribesMr.Cruncherandhiscompanionsasfishing.
3. DescribetherelaLonshipbetweenYoungJerryandMr.Cruncher.Howdoesitevolveduringthe
text?
4. ExplainDickens’assessmentofMr.Cruncher’scharacter.DoeshedepicthimposiLvelyor
negaLvely?WhatdoyouthinkDickensistryingtosayaboutthe“honestcalling”ofthe
“ResurrecLonMen”asawhole?(For9-10Grade)
ForGrades11-12
5. BydescribingMr.Cruncherasan“honourableparent”whatimplicaLonisDickenstryingtomake
aboutMr.Cruncher’scharacter?Whatishetryingtosayaboutthe“honestcalling”ofthe
“ResurrecLonMen”asawhole?
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia
BodyWorldsPersuasiveEssay
18
CreatedbyGunthervonHagensBodyWorlds,exhibitspreservedhumanandanimalbodiesposedin
acLveposiLons,suchasplayingsportsanddancing.Theyarepreservedthroughaprocessdevelopedby
VonHagensknownas“plasLnaLon,”inwhichthebody’swaterandfatarereplacedwithresin.Since
1997,theBodyWorldsexhibithasbeendisplayedatsitesacrosstheglobetomillionsofvisitors.
BodyWorldsandsimilarcompeLngexhibiLonshaveaGractedcontroversyasdifferentgroupsarguein
favororagainsttheexhibiLonofhumanspecimensandhowthesedisplaysportraythehumanform.
WriteapersuasiveessayorpresentaLonarguinginfavororagainsttheuseofbodiesinBodyWorlds.
Developyourargumentbyresearchingreliablesources.Possiblefocalpointsincludetheexhibit’s
relaLonshiptomedicaleducaLon,thedisplayofbodiesandwhethertheyqualifyasartorshockvalue,
andtheacquisiLonofspecimens.
RecommendedStar.ngPoints
HomepageofVonHagensPlasLnaLon:h`p://www.vonhagens-plas.na.on.com/
ThomasS.Hibbs,“DeadBodyPorn,”TheNewAtlan0s,No.15(Winter2007),128-131:hGp://
www.thenewatlanLs.com/publicaLons/dead-body-porn
TonyWalter,“BodyWorlds:ClinicalDetachmentandAnatomicalAwe,”SociologyofHealthandIllness,
Vol.26,No.4(May2004):464-488,hGp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.
0141-9889.2004.00401.x/full.
LauraLloyd-Braff,“BodyWorlds:AnExhibitthatReallyGetsUndertheSkin,”e-Vision,Vol.7(2007),
hGps://www.jmu.edu/evision/Volume7/Lloyd-Braff.pdf,
©2016TheCollegeofPhysiciansofPhiladelphia