Anatomy Act 1832
Background
Background
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The 19th century ushered in a new\-found medical interest in detailed anatomy thanks to an increase in the importance of surgery. In order to study anatomy, human cadavers were needed and thus ushered in the practice of grave robbing. Before 1832, the [Murder Act 1752](/wiki/Murder_Act_1752 "Murder Act 1752") stipulated that only the corpses of [executed](/wiki/Capital_punishment "Capital punishment") [murderers](/wiki/Murderer "Murderer") could be used for dissection. By the early 19th century, the rise of [medical science](/wiki/Medical_science "Medical science") – coinciding with a reduction in the number of executions – had caused demand to outstrip supply.

Around 1810, an anatomical society was formed to impress upon the government the necessity for altering the law. Among its members were [John Abernethy](/wiki/John_Abernethy_%28surgeon%29 "John Abernethy (surgeon)"), [Charles Bell](/wiki/Charles_Bell "Charles Bell"), [Everard Home](/wiki/Everard_Home "Everard Home"), [Benjamin Brodie](/wiki/Sir_Benjamin_Collins_Brodie%2C_1st_Baronet "Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, 1st Baronet"), [Astley Cooper](/wiki/Astley_Cooper "Astley Cooper"), and [Henry Cline](/wiki/Henry_Cline "Henry Cline"). The efforts of this body gave rise in 1828 to a [select committee](/wiki/Select_committee_%28United_Kingdom%29 "Select committee (United Kingdom)") to report on the question. The report of this committee led to the Bill. Public revulsion at the recent [West Port murders](/wiki/Burke_and_Hare_murders "Burke and Hare murders") swayed opinion in favour of a change in the law. In 1831 public outcry at the activities of the [London Burkers](/wiki/London_Burkers "London Burkers") caused further pressure for a Bill.


Who formed an anatomical society around 1810 to change the law?