Chapter
The Grisly Business of Body Harvesting in 19th Century Edinburgh
54:26 - 1:01:46 (07:20)
The story of Dr. Robert Knox, an anatomist who purchased bodies from two men who were murdering people to sell their corpses, and his involvement in the Burke and Hare murders in 19th century Edinburgh. Despite being questioned about the origins of the bodies, Knox claimed he believed they had died of natural causes and were obtained from poor lodging houses.
Clips
William Burke and William Hare were on trial in 1828 for killing 16 people in Edinburgh and selling their bodies to medical schools.
54:26 - 57:26 (03:00)
Summary
William Burke and William Hare were on trial in 1828 for killing 16 people in Edinburgh and selling their bodies to medical schools. Experts testified that the victims had been suffocated, and numerous witnesses testified against the accused, including friends and family of both the victims and the accused.
ChapterThe Grisly Business of Body Harvesting in 19th Century Edinburgh
Episode54: Murder, Mystery and Medicine. Holyrood Royal Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
Public dissecting was quite a common form of entertainment in the 18th century where thousands of people would gather around to watch a person being hung and then dissected.
57:27 - 1:01:46 (04:19)
Summary
Public dissecting was quite a common form of entertainment in the 18th century where thousands of people would gather around to watch a person being hung and then dissected. The practice was deemed socially acceptable and even sparked riots that led to the burning of an effigy of the victim.