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
e found, who, for a small sum, would dig up any body anyone desired. The militia with their gleaming bayonets fought back as they marched steadily forward on the dark, heaving mass that filled the street as far as the eye could see. A flash broad as the streets followed, lightening up the gloom, and revealing the scowling faces of the mob, the battered front of the jail, and the pale faces of those guarding the windows. 6 With this volley of fire, three rioters were killed-a cartman, a young man, and a person identified only as a "servant of Mr. Livingston's". Several others were wounded as well. Before a second volley was summoned, the crowd had dispersed. Governor George Clinton, Chancellor Robert Livingston, John Jay, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, and Mayor James Duane all begged the crowd for some control. Their response from the angry mob: Jay was struck in the head and had to be carried home under a state of unconsciousness; Duane and his troop of militia was greeted by an abundance of missiles; and Baron von Steuben was bleeding a puddle of blood from his head.5 "In 1788 the town's only shelter for the ill was New York Hospital, a three-story structure atop a small hill west of Broadway between Duane and Reade streets.1" Due to the fact that British soldiers had left the place in horrible condition, the facility could not be used for practice of medicine. Two of its rooms had been altered by the professors of the nearby Columbia College into dissecting rooms for the students. A mere accident caused this state of feeling to culminate and suddenly break out into action. On Sunday, April 13th, some boys were playing in the rear of the New York Hospital as they peered into the window, they were shocked at the sight of seeing and amputated arm waved at them by one of the surgeons. Impelled by curiosity, one of the boys immediately mounted a ladder t
Some common words found in the essay are:
James Duane, York Hospital, Temple British, , York City, Richard Morris, Columbia College, Places8 Corpses, Due British, medical students, york hospital, Baron Friedrich, physicians medical students, bring doctors, front jail, crowd dispersed, james duane, physicians medical, mayor james, von steuben, impelled curiosity, mayor james duane,
Approximate Word count = 1269
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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