The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812: To Which Are Added an Account of the Resurrection Men in London and a Short History of the Passing of the Anatomy ActBailey, James Blake
History
The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812: To Which Are Added an Account of the Resurrection Men in London and a Short History of the Passing of the Anatomy Act
Bailey, James Blake
Body snatching
publication is of a very abusive character; the surgeon of the gaol, Mr.
Wakley, of the _Lancet_, and the authorities at the hospital, all come in
for severe censure. The whole tone of the pamphlet is so exaggerated that
it is impossible to tell whether there is any truth in Mrs. Millard's
grievances.
[71] Extremities.
[72] These words are illegible.
[73] St. Pancras.
[74] Male.
[75] Mr. Edward Stanley, Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
[76] Private door into the burial-ground, probably generally left unlocked
for them by the custodian; for some special reason it was closed on this
particular night.
[77] In all probability Israel Chapman, a Jew, who was in the resurrection
trade; the object of following was to try and prevent his doing any
business. (See page 49.) The next entry shows that the Jew had sold a body
at St. Bartholomew's; there was "a row" at this, and, no doubt, "the
regular men" had to be pacified.
[78] Placed there by friends of the deceased, in all probability.
[79] Opened two graves; one body too decomposed to bring away, so they
drew the canine teeth and sold them.
[80] Words crossed out and illegible in the MS.
[81] Tom Light.
[82] See also p. 129.
[83] The words in brackets are crossed out in the MS.
[84] _i.e._ The clothes specially used for resurrection work; they would
naturally be clay-stained, and if worn during the day would betray their
owner's occupation.
[85] Probably slang for a funeral.
[86] Blue Lion.
[87] Canine teeth.
[88] The watchman.
[89] _i.e._ got 6 adults, 1 small, and 1 foetus from St. Pancras: these
were taken to S. Bartholomew's: the four from Tottenham went to Mr.
Wilson.
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
Superscripted letters are shown in {brackets}.
The following misprints have been corrected:
"where" corrected to "were" (page xii)
"how tax" corrected to "hot wax" (page 83)
Other than the corrections listed above, printer's inconsistencies in
spelling, punctuation, and hyphenation usage have been retained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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