Episode Details

Before modern medical standards to study the human body, many doctors and physicians stole corpses to carry out their research. Unfortunately, this was not looked too kindly upon by the general public. In 1788, a bad joke from one of these physicians turned an upset crowd into a riotous one, ending with thousands besieging a New York hospital, and several deaths. This is the story of the 1788 Doctor Riot.

Sponsor

Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.

Sources

https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-anatomy-riot-of-1788/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gory-new-york-city-riot-shaped-american-medicine-180951766/ ; https://www.monmouthcollege.edu/live/files/739-mjur-i05-2015-9-niemeyerpdf

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An_Interrupted_Dissection.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices