Resurrection Men and the Doctors Riot

Published: Feb. 19, 2016, 3:21 a.m.

b"Doctors and medical students have not always been respected,\\xa0rigorously- trained, caring professionals. \\xa0In fact, around the time of the Revolutionary War and thereafter, they were regarded with suspicion and even horror. \\xa0Not only was the job itself grisly and failure- prone, but for students,\\xa0dissection was nearly impossible due to\\xa0strong cultural biases against desecrating bodies. \\xa0Forced to find a way to learn about the human body, medical students hired-- or become-- Resurrection Men, or grave robbers. \\xa0Their callous indifference to mourning families offended\\xa0the sensibilities of the citizens of New York City. Finally, after a\\xa0particularly\\xa0gruesome encounter in April 1788, New Yorkers decided they would no longer stand for constant grave- robbing. A two- day riot ensued, in which both medical schools in New York City were attacked, anatomical models were destroyed, and an estimated 20 people were killed.How has medical education changed over time? \\xa0This\\xa0episode of Sawbones, Kathleen's favorite medical history podcast, tells you everything you need to know.Check out the\\xa0Facebook\\xa0page for lots of good images!"