The Rise of Body Snatching
In the 18th and 19th centuries, medical schools required fresh cadavers for dissection, creating a black market for stolen corpses. “Resurrectionists” dug up graves under cover of darkness, selling bodies to anatomists. But a hidden danger was waiting for them…
A Lethal Security Measure
To combat the threat, some cemeteries installed cemetery guns—spring-loaded firearms mounted near graves. These devices, often set to tripwires, discharged a blast of lead shot when disturbed, aiming to injure or scare away grave robbers.
Used Across Britain and America
Cemetery guns were commonly used in Britain and the United States, especially in the late 18th century. Some designs allowed them to rotate, covering multiple graves. Wealthier families even hired guards or built metal cages called mortsafes for extra protection.
The Decline of Cemetery Guns
By the mid-19th century, laws allowing the legal donation of bodies to medical schools reduced the demand for stolen corpses. As a result, cemetery guns faded from use, and body snatching gradually disappeared.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, medical schools required fresh cadavers for dissection, creating a black market for stolen corpses. "Resurrectionists" dug up graves under cover of darkness, selling bodies to anatomists. But a hidden danger was waiting for them… 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/MgZByQ1Ut2
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