In 1828, Burke and Hare murdered sixteen people and sold their bodies to the anatomy school of Dr Robert Knox. So began the notorious tale of Edinburgh’s murky medical underworld that has become synonymous with the history of science in the capital.
But how did the culture of 1820s Edinburgh allow the cultivation of such crimes? And what where the outcomes for the study of anatomy in Edinburgh?
In this evening talk at Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh’s Physicians’ Gallery, three speakers – Cat Irving (Surgeons’ Hall), Janet Philp (University of Edinburgh) and Sophie Goggins (National Museums Scotland) – present a fresh take on the well-known story, from the cause to the aftermath.
The evening is chaired by Prof Tom Gillingwater, Head of department and Professor of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh.
Further details and booking instructions can be found on Anatomy: Burke to Bioethics.
