Doctor's Riot
In former times “body-snatching”, or digging up bodies for dissections was much more heard of than at present. The fear if it was so great, that often, in the neighborhood where medical students were pursuing their studies, persons who lost friends and family members would have a watch kept over their graves for several nights, to prevent them from being dug up. Neither the high social position nor sex of the dead provided a barrier to this disturbance of the graves. Although it was established that for thorough instruction in medical science, subjects for dissection were necessary, yet no one outside of the medical profession could be found to authorize “body-snatching”. In the winter of 1787 and 1788, medical students of New York City dug up bodies more frequently than usual. Usually, the students had contented themselves with ripping open the graves of strangers and Negroes, about whom there was little concern. This winter, however, they dug up respectable people, even young women, of whom they made an indecent exposure. The stories did not lose anything by reputation, and soon the conduct of physicians and medical students became a town talk. The graveyards were easily accessible while there are plenty of men to b
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Some common words found in the essay are:
James Duane, York Hospital, Sir John, , York City, Richard Morris, Columbia College, Places8 Corpses, Due British, medical students, york hospital, Baron Friedrich, physicians medical students, james duane, von steuben, impelled curiosity, mayor james, bring doctors, physicians medical, front jail, crowd dispersed, mayor james duane,
Approximate Word count = 1269
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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