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The receiver-general at work, or the dog at a bone
Unknown, 1829, Engraving
The receiver-general at work, or the dog at a bone
The receiver-general at work, or the dog at a bone
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Item no
21674
Title
The receiver-general at work, or the dog at a bone (Dr Robert Knox)
Description
A satirical image of the anatomist Robert Knox who is portrayed with the body of a dog. He is holding up the bones of a hand and forearm. He addresses the male students seated around him with the words "I will do just as I have done heretofore" and this is followed by the words Introductory Lecture, January. A cadaver lies of a table behind him covered by a sheet. The words "Drawn by Quintin Quizzical Esqr student" are also inscribed on the drawing.
Artist / maker
Unknown
Date
1829
Type
Engraving
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Dr Robert Knox was the anatomical lecturer by whom the bodies provided by Burke and Hare were dissected.
Dr Robert Knox (1791-1862) first began to lecture on anatomy in 1825 and became very popular. On average over three hundred students attended his lectures at No 10, Surgeons Square. Sometimes there were over five hundred, which meant he had to repeat the lecture three times in one day as there was not enough room for them all in the lecture hall. Although the bodies were sold to Dr Knox Burke said in the 'Courant' confession that 'Dr Knox never incoureged him'.
William Burke and William Hare provided corpses for dissection by murdering people, but for almost one hundred years corpses had been provided from recent graves by people known as 'resurrectionists'. People had taken various self-help measures such as placing cages known as mortsafes over graves, or paying subscriptions to gravewatching societies, which meant the graveyards would be patrolled by armed guards. None of these methods was foolproof. But the crimes of Burke and Hare created so much anxiety amongst the public that in 1832 the Anatomy Act was passed which ensured a legal supply of bodies for anatomists.
Exhibitions with this item
Burke and Hare's Edinburgh
Graveyards and cemeteries of Edinburgh
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