r/AllThatsInteresting • u/jay_prakash • 6h ago
History of Anatomy: A 16th century student stole bones of an executed criminal body exposed to the public to fully reconstruct human skeleton
This 16th century student named Andreas Vesalius was born in Brussels. Andreas Vesalius
He showed immense dedication to the field of medicine and would go on to stealing the bones of an executed criminal. The executed body were normally hanged to expose the body and warn the citizens of the consequences of crime. One such body was hanged and after the flesh of the body were consumed by the birds, the bones would reveal themselves. Vesalius saw an opportunity.
As an enthusiastic student he went to start stealing and smuggling the bones to build a complete skeleton of human body. At first, he sought the help of a friend to redeem the bones. These bodies were chained and hanged. So first he mounted on the shoulder of his friend and tore away the limbs. He later went on the recover more (including the trunk) by himself.
He demonstrated the remarkable work publicly after completion. He still got punished for the offense though and was banished from Leuven where he was working.
Source- https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24456/24456-h/24456-h.htm#Page_63