Address to the community, on the necessity of legalizing the study of anatomy / by order of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

  • Massachusetts Medical Society.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address to the community, on the necessity of legalizing the study of anatomy / by order of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The want of a knowledge? which must be spread through the community, if popular lectures upon Anatomy were as common as those upon Astrono¬ my, and other branches of natural science,—is sen¬ sibly felt on many important occasions. In our courts of justice, it is not only necessary that the physician, called to the stand, to give a medical opinion as to the cause of death in a case of suspect¬ ed violence, or poisoning, should have clear and defi¬ nite views of the anatomical structure of parts, but the court and the jury need to partake in this very knowledge. Most medical men, who have been call¬ ed to give evidence upon such occasions, will testify that it is a difficult matter to make themselves fairly understood by the bench, the bar, or the jury. In the Coroner’s court of inquest, this deficiency of anatomical knowledge impedes the administration of justice in a still greater degree. Legal medicine is a science which, in an eminent degree, involves the life, property and reputation of persons accused in courts of justice : and to render this science truly the organ of justice, and prevent its being per¬ verted to aid the cause of error, its foundation must be laid in minute Anatomy. At the present time, the medical profession is looked upon with a great degree of interest by the extra-professional part of community. Our means of knowledge, and sources of skill, are such as can be inquired into and canvassed by all; and the days in which physicians performed the part of juggl ers are gone. Mystery and jargon are laid aside, with flowing wigs and gold-headed canes. Physicians now speak an intelligible language ; and