Human Remains

This book explores the unethical practices surrounding body procurement for dissection in 19th-century Britain, particularly highlighting the story within Human Remains.

Until 1832, public dissection in Britain was a legal practice, often performed on the bodies of executed criminals. This practice was fueled by a severe shortage of cadavers, leading to the notorious actions of Burke and Hare, who committed murders to provide corpses for Dr. Robert Knox, a prominent anatomist. In Human Remains, Helen MacDonald delves into this dark chapter of medical history, exploring the lengths to which medical professionals went to secure bodies for their studies.

The narrative focuses particularly on the activities of British surgeons in nineteenth-century Van Diemen’s Land, a penal colony with an alarming abundance of available bodies. The book uncovers the grim reality that not only executed criminals but also marginalized groups, including Aborigines and the impoverished who died in hospitals, were often subjected to dissection without consent. MacDonald’s exploration sheds light on the ethical dilemmas faced by medical practitioners of the time and the societal implications of their actions.

Human Remains provides a sensitive yet unflinching examination of how the pursuit of knowledge can lead to exploitation. The author draws parallels between historical practices and contemporary instances, such as televised dissections, prompting readers to reflect on the moral complexities surrounding the use of human bodies in the name of science and education. This compelling account serves as a reminder of the darker aspects of medical progress and the often-overlooked stories of those whose bodies have been objectified.