The Knife Man: Blood, Body Snatching, and the Birth of Modern Surgery

A Commentary on W.Moore's Book "The Knife Man.."One of the amazing things in life is to find a young farm boy from the Scottish lowlands who hated books and despised reading learn to become a leading anatomist and to reach the highest professional ranks including the prestigious position of the King's Doctor. The road was long and the work was hard and demanding, but thanks to his older brother, William Huntor, the set up established in his residence down in London was ready for John to join him in his small school of anatomy.John, the wild boy of the Hunter family, was by nature gruff, crude and impatient; he was in fact written off by his mother as a hopeless case. But, hardly twenty, he immediately after joining William proved to be meticulous and hard working. It became clear that he had found his favourite occupation: dissecting carcasses. Initially it was difficult and definitely not for the faint hearted. But that did not bother John. Soon he joined the grave robbers and the cemetery body snatchers to ensure a supply of cadavers for the next day of dissection. Before long, and under the experienced eye of William, John made long and remarkable strides. After less than a decade he build up an impressive experience and became the talk of the London surgeons. However, his lack of formal education in addition to his crude and unorthodox manners caused him problems. In fact he was continually ridiculed by his colleagues and even turned down for new positions. Typically, he just ignored his critics and enemies, and went on accumulating valuable experience not only on the dead but also on live human beings and later even on animals. Medical students as well as patients,( including some from America ) came to work with him and seek his advice. Some whispered that he even surpassed his now famous brother William who had guided him all through. Ultimately, the Royal Society, ignoring his opponents and faced with his impressive performance was forced to admit him as a member into this elite London group, an unusual move given his lack of formal education.As we have seen, John was oblivious to his enemies and critics. However, something more serious started to bother him after achieving high acclaims from different institutions. He became aware that his brother was taking credit for all his discoveries and scientific papers and citing John merely as an assistant. William felt that John was not only his student but was working under his institution's name and its financial support. John did not share this reasoning especially as his discoveries were becoming more important. In addition, John's projects were not at all related to William's; e.g. his works on the lymphatic system, venereal diseases, dental growth, babies testis, and others. It was unfortunate to watch a gradual rift between the two brothers who worked so amicably and closely together for so long. To add insult to injury, John with his usual impetuous style, officially reported William's actions to the Royal Society, to William's shock and great embarrassment. Of course, the Academy refused to adjudicate. As a result John moved out and started his own business seemingly thankless for his brother's support and help through his early years.In a way, this book is not only about anatomy and dissections but about human relations too. It was touching in the beginning to see William embrace his young brother, a difficult teen ager, take him under his wings and get him started in business. But, was he later envious or just greedy to claim his brother's discoveries. On the other hand was John ungrateful, biting the hand that fed him all these years? Did John go too far in embarrassing his famous brother by accusing him of misconduct before the elite group of the Royal Society? Was it not more respectful to resolve this problem privately and amicably rather than publicly?It is sad that later on his deathbed William was still bitter about John's behavior. In his will, William generously distributed his vast wealth to a list of family members. Sadly, John's name was the only one not on the list, although he badly needed financial help. Equally unfortunate, when John died few years later, a victim of his own irritability, he was virtually bankrupt. All his possessions had to be sold to pay his debts, leaving his wife and two children, who were used to luxury, in a miserable situation.The author, Wendy Moore, must be commended on this engaging book with such extensive research behind the story. She made a difficult, medical subject that's so remote from our daily lives, very informative and yet so readable.Fuad R. QubeinMarch, 2016

As a retired surgeon I found this biography of anatomist-surgeon John Hunter fascinating. It has a readable style that both informs and entertains as we are led through the dark medical universe of 18th century London, where the average life expectancy was 35 years due to the abysmal public health conditions of the day and a medical system based on blood-letting and other mythologies, and learn of the achievements of this towering figure in the advance of medicine and surgery who is not well known or recognized beyond establishment circles today.In our modern world of miraculous medical achievements we too often take for granted the scientific approach initially promulgated by John Hunter. Living in London in the mid-1700s this Scottish-born, brilliant yet eccentric surgeon, who was both an ardent naturalist and an innovator of medical practice, was a voice in the wilderness of his day. His common sense approach has been responsible for our emergence from a world of superstition and quackery into today's era of rational science that has increased longevity and relief from so many debilitating maladies.A man of intense curiosity and self-confidence, Hunter bucked the medical establishment in demanding that objective criteria be the basis of determining the efficacy of medical intervention. Over several decades of intense study and research on human and animal bodies, made possible by the controversial practice of obtaining "material" for his dissection laboratory of fresh corpses from the grave yards of London, he catalogued the gross and minute anatomic principles of the living body and opened the door to a logical understanding of the normal and the pathological features of health and disease. Along the way his work convinced him that the biblical account of history was wrong, and being unafraid to challenge the popular wisdom of his era he did not hesitate to publish his subversive opinions about evolution that preceded Darwin by more than half a century.As his reputation grew Hunter attracted hundreds of students and disciples to his laboratory, out of whom came many of the most notable medical leaders of the next generation, both in Europe and in America. One of his favorites was Edward Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination, which ultimately eliminated the scourge of smallpox from the face of the earth. Jenner acknowledged his master when he put forth his basic principles for the practice of medicine. These he summarized thusly: first is the priority to look after the patient; next the importance of a continuous quest for knowledge, that is, to read; third is the value of research, not to merely assume, but to "do the experiment"; and finally the responsibility to teach those that follow.In his successful effort to convince the world of the efficacy of vaccination against smallpox Jenner followed the Hunterian formula of exposition. It begins with the statement of a thesis, then a review of existing knowledge on the subject (in current parlance, a review of the literature), a presentation of an hypothesis, a description of the experiment with "materials and methods", a disclosure of the results with a discussion, and finally a conclusion. This is the scientific method introduced by John Hunter that is used today that has produced the advances in medicine that have so benefitted mankind.This book deserves wide circulation. It is not only profoundly informative but also produces repeated literary pleasures with each turn of the page for both the expert and lay person alike. We are indebted to Wendy Moore for this fascinating review of the life and achievements

A superb portrait of one of the most influential individuals in the history of medicine, John Hunter. He was one of the first great anatomists and used his passionate study of the human form to advance surgical techniques. In the time when blood-letting was considered a curative procedure Hunter utilized the scientific method of experimentation and applied his findings to improve patient care. His patients included some of the world's most prominent men and women as well as the most humble citizens of London. In a time before autopsies and when human dissection was a crime Hunter employed body snatchers, or "resurrectionists" to help him acquire his specimens. His interest in anatomy was widespread and during his life was the world's leading expert in comparative anatomy including both animal and plant species. He was the inspiration for the main character in Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" as well as Dr. Dolittle in the series of children's books by Hugh Lofting. His volatile personality won him devoted disciples and fierce lifelong adversaries. Hunter's investigation into the anatomy of monkeys, apes and humans led him to believe in an "original life form" and to develop the basis for the origin of species some seventy years prior to Charles Darwin. Unfortunately, at the time the British Royal Academy of Sciences wouldn't allow him to publish his theories due to its "heretical nature." I'm a huge fan of Wendy Moore and hope she continues to produce more great works pertaining to the history of medicine and science.

The story of John Hunter is not one that is told, the man is the father of Comparative Anatomy . Must read.

For anyone who likes history of medicine this is a great and enjoyable read!!! Highly recommended. Don’t want it to end!

I chose this for our book group and it had mixed reviews It is slightly hard work in parts but you will learn something on every page about both Hunter and developments in medicine.

Fantastic book.

Every doctor has seen the painting which is depicted on the cover of this book,but very few know the life and times ofJohn Hunter. His efforts have created the Hunterian museum and Hunterian annua lectures by distinguished surgeons.In his life time he was criticized and berated by fellow surgeons in the hospital. The unkindest cut of all came from his brother in law. After his death the family lived in abject poverty.A book all anatomists and surgeons MUST read.THANKS AMAZON FOR THEIR GOOD SERVICE.

Arrived earlier than the end delivery date and in perfect condition. A very interesting read!